In the study by Telesign, web users had on average six passwords protecting 24 online accounts, another cause for concern. Using old or weak passwords across multiple sites can leave people vulnerable to attack.
Using the same password on multiple sites is one of the biggest mistakes that people can make in terms of Internet security. If a password for one account gets compromised then it can start a chain reaction that leaves other online accounts vulnerable to attack. With high profile data breaches regularly in the news, this is not as farfetched as it may sound.
Good password practice
There are three basic steps that we can all follow to help keep our online accounts safe:
Use a strong password
Creating a strong and memorable password doesn’t have to be difficult, we’ve outlined three easy steps in our password guide.
In the meantime, here are four common password mistakes to avoid.
Use a different password for each account
Here to explain why it’s always a good idea to use site-specific passwords, here is AVG Security Awareness Director Michael McKinnon:
Use Two-Factor authentication
Lastly, I suggest using two-factor authentication whenever it’s available. Two-factor authentication means that your password alone isn’t enough to access an account. Instead you’ll need a code sent to your phone or generated by an app to validate your identity.
Watch the video below to learn more:
