US and UK Password Practices Leave Users Vulnerable, According to Survey Sponsored by Siber Systems

FAIRFAX, Va., March 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Siber Systems, Inc., maker of RoboForm Password Manager, the world's most popular password manager, today announced the results of a poll the company sponsored via uSamp to assess consumer password practices in the US and UK. The survey, which polled 1,000 consumers on their password management practices, suggests that widespread improvements are needed to shore up security against hackers. The survey is timely because there is a growing concern worldwide about data and identity security due to high-profile hacking incidents.

The survey reveals that even with heightened awareness about hacking due to reports of major breaches in the headlines, most consumers still use poor password practices. More than 60% of participants reported that they'd either forgotten a password or had a password compromised at some point during their professional career. People in the US (70%) were somewhat more likely than their counterparts in the UK (57%) to have forgotten a password or had it exposed to risks on the job.

Only a fraction of survey respondents report that they use the type of strong password management practices industry experts recommend: passwords that contain upper and lowercase letters as well as numbers and symbols, use of unique passwords for each registered website and changing passwords every 30-60 days. Only 37% of survey participants use passwords that contain both letters and numbers. And only 8% report using a password management system, which can automatically create strong passwords for every site and change them frequently.

Fully 65% of respondents say they use three or more devices daily, and almost three quarters – 73% – report that they allow their browser to remember passwords for them at least some of the time, and 76% occasionally neglect to log out of websites when they're finished browsing. In addition, 42% of survey participants say they write passwords down to keep track of them.  The survey also revealed that many respondents use the same password for multiple sites: 74% report that they log into six or more sites every day, and 30% visit more than 10 sites daily. But 59% of participants say they use five or fewer passwords, meaning they use the same password on multiple sites.

The survey shows that widespread adoption of good password management practices would be a challenge for users since 52% of respondents say they are already stressed about the number of things they have to remember. However, one solution to this dilemma would be to use a password management system that can automatically generate and update secure passwords and manage them across multiple devices, with the user only having to remember one master password.

Whether users choose to find a password management solution or start creating and managing stronger passwords on their own, one thing is clear from the survey: There's a lot of room for improvement. To learn more about the RoboForm Password Manager, please visit www.roboform.com.  

About Siber Systems
Founded in 1995, Siber Systems creates and markets software products for consumers and businesses around the world. Our software is highly acclaimed and has received numerous awards, including PC Magazine Editor's Choice, CNET's Best Software of the Year, and PC World's 25 Products We Can't Live Without. The company's flagship products, RoboForm and GoodSync, are used by millions of people worldwide, with registered customers in over 100 countries. GoodSync, an easy and reliable automatic file synchronization program, was released in 2006 and already enjoys favorable reviews from users and the press. RoboForm solves user's password challenges by remembering passwords, logging into websites automatically, generating secure passwords and even completing long checkout forms with a single click.  As part of the company's strong commitment to customer satisfaction, its software comes with a risk-free trial. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, Siber Systems is privately held.

SOURCE Siber Systems, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.roboform.com