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Passwords revealed by sweet deal

Date: April 21, 2004
Source: BBC newsround


BBC informs that more than 70% of people would reveal their computer password in exchange for a bar of chocolate, a survey has found.

It also showed that 34% of respondents volunteered their password when asked without even needing to be bribed.

A second survey found that 79% of people unwittingly gave away information that could be used to steal their identity when questioned.

Security firms predict that the lax security practices will fuel a British boom in online identity theft.

Security shock

The survey on passwords was carried out for the Infosecurity Europe trade show due to take place at Olympia in London from 27-29 April.

The survey data was gathered by questioning commuters passing through Liverpool Street station in London and found that many were happy to share login and password information with those carrying out the research.

As well as people simply telling the questioners their passwords or saying they would hand them over in exchange for some confectionery, a further 34% revealed the word or phrase they used when asked if it had anything to do with a pet or child's name.

Family names, pets and football teams were all used by those questioned to provide inspiration for a password.

The survey found that, on average, people have to remember four passwords, though one unlucky respondent had to remember 40.

Many adopt very unsafe tactics to remember these login names. Some of those questioned simply use the same password for every system they must log on to.

Those that used several passwords often wrote them down and hid them in a desk or in a document on their computer.

Almost all of those questioned, 80%, said they were fed up with passwords and would like a better way to login to work computer systems.
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2005-11-07 13:25:28 - i want his password tauan
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