How can users balance the challenges of remembering so many passwords with keeping their accounts as safe as possible? Dashlane – a password management company – delved into the data from over 20,000 of its users to analyse just how many online accounts we are creating – and forgetting.
Key findings
- The inboxes scanned by Dashlane showed that on average each email address had 107 online accounts registered to it.
- The averages for users in the US (130) and the UK (118) were considerably higher.
- The number of accounts per user are increasing by approximately 14% every year.
- Each inbox had an average of 37 'forgot password' emails!
- If they are not forgetting – and consistently having to reset – their passwords, users are reusing their favourite passwords several times.
The research also found that over 10% of companies had sent out password reminders in clear text – where they remain in inboxes and are easy targets for hackers.
Password free options
New research from Accenture shows that consumers are keen to find alternatives to passwords. 77% of those surveyed would be interested in alternative ways of protecting their online security. 58% are interested in using some form of biometric information. Fewer than half of the consumers were confident in the security of their personal data.
Password sharing
According to a new study from GlobalWebIndex, nearly two-thirds of Netflix subscribers in the US and UK share their username and password with other people. 19% share their passwords with three – or more – individuals. According to CBCNews, streaming services are not rushing to crack down on sharers – particularly as previous research suggests many freeloaders will go on to upgrade and pay for their own subscriptions.
The infographic showing Dashlane’s findings are available via the company’s blog.
Other sources: Accenture; ITProPortal; NFC World; Huffington Post.