Internet users' careless password usage increases ID theft

The research reveals that more than half of UK internet users use the same credentials on several services, as well as never changing their details unless promoted to do so.

The 2,000 user survey also revealed that three of the most regularly used passwords - town of birth, date of birth and name of past schools - also feature in the top 10 personal details that users publish on online social networking portals.

The survey found that 18% of respondents would post their town of birth on a social networking profile, but only 3% would give the same data to a stranger over the phone.

24% of users, meanwhile, said they would publish the names of their past schools online, but only 1% would give out that information on the phone.

Curiously, internet users were quite free and easy with their date of birth with 27% willing to publish it online, and 23% willing to give the information over the phone

Online credential management proves to be something of a disaster, as more than 50% said they used the same password for some or all of their internet services, with 57% apparently admitting the data on social networking sites was being used as a password.

Commenting on the survey's results, Pete Turner, managing director of Experian Interactive, said that it shows that the message of ID fraud is still not being heard.

"The internet is accessible to almost everyone and as the number of users grow, so do those using it for criminal purposes. Users need to be aware of what information they are giving out online and who might be accessing it", he said.

"People are clearly aware of the dangers of giving away personal details to strangers calling them up on the phone, so why are they giving this information away to a huge audience online?", he added.
 

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