Britons making password cracking too easy

Recent Cyber Streetwise research shows that more passwords are being used by Britons than this time last year. However, the study warns that they are too  simple and easier to identify.

The numbers show that 75 per cent of Britons fail to adhere to best practice and use complex passwords. Close to half (47 per cent) rely on predicable passwords such as important dates or pet names.

More than a third confessed that they choose simple passwords as they have trouble remembering more complex combinations. This could become an increasingly concerning issue, with about 82 per cent of people using more web-based accounts than 12 months ago.

The average online user in Britain regularly uses nearly 20 passwords, says the data released by Cyber Streetwise.

The minister for organised crime and modern slavery, Karen Bradley, said in a statement that weak password practices can lead to citizens experiencing emotional and financial damage. She commented:

“There is an emotional impact caused by the loss of irreplaceable photos, videos and personal emails, but even worse, these can be seized to extort money.”

Individuals can help themselves by choosing passwords that make it more difficult for cyber criminals to crack. Businesses certainly need to be even more vigilant when they are holding customer data, potentially compromising hundreds or even thousands of customer accounts. Having said that, all companies are susceptible to attack, to one degree or another.

Other than applying common sense when it comes to preventative measures, businesses should also be posting cyber security jobs in order to have someone on board to take the necessary action, should an attack be successful.