Only 19% of website users protect their identities with
multiple uniquepasswords, a survey has
revealed.
One-third admit
using the same password for every website they access,
according to an online survey of over 650 respondents by UK-based
security firm
Sophos.
Although this has improved from 41% three years ago, Sophos said
the survey shows many computer users continue to overlook the
importance of
strong passwords.
The remaining 48% said they had a
few different passwords, but did not have a unique password for
each online account.
Using the same password for multiple accounts makes it much
easier for hackers, said Graham Cluley, senior technology
consultant at Sophos.
"Once a password has been compromised, it is only a matter of
time before the fraudsters will be able to access other accounts
and steal information for gain," he said.
Users should avoid standard dictionary words and common
passwords like "admin" or "1234" as these are easy for hackers to
crack, said Cluley.
The
Conficker worm uses lists of 200 common passwords to attempt to
access other computers on the network.
This means if one employee is infected, the whole corporate
network could be compromised quickly if strong passwords are not
enforced.
Cluley suggests picking a sentence that is easy to remember and
using the first letter of every word to make up the password and
replacing words like "to" and "for" with numbers.