Employee passwords are notoriously weak

For the last several years, industry experts have been sounding the alarm about password security.  We've known for quite some time that one of the biggest weak spots in corporate security is the fact that employee passwords are notoriously weak. Millions have been spent on security education.  Seminars have been held on the dangers of using weak passwords and using the same password across multiple websites.

Endless rounds of training courses have been held trying to ram the point home.

The result? Not much has changed. According to a recent survey conducted by Google, two out of three users surveyed are still holding firm, using the same bad password habits they were before all the money and time was spent trying to convince them of the errors of their ways.

It gets worse though if you can believe it.  A staggering 69 percent of survey respondents gave themselves an A or B grade for their ability to protect their online accounts, with 59 percent indicating a belief that they were better than the average person when it comes to keeping their accounts safe.

Other highlights of the survey include gems like

  • Less than a quarter of respondents said they use a password manager
  • Only two-thirds of respondents say they regularly update their OS and applications, even though 80 percent said they understood that such updates were crucial in terms of keeping their systems safe
  • Only 32 percent of respondents could successfully identify all three of the following terms: phishing, two-factor authentication, and password manager.

Our perspective

It's a surreal landscape of results that reveals an enormous amount of wishful thinking, and of course, it's an absolute bonanza for hackers around the world.  With this data in mind, it's a safe bet that 2019 will be another record-breaking year where successful data breaches are concerned.  Brace for it.

The author

Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPia Blogs. I am also available at dwpia on LinkedIn, at dwpia on Facebook, and @dwpia on Twitter.

Cybersecurity Expert, Small Business Technology Consultant, Managed Services Provider, Managed IT Support

Denis S Wilson

I am President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects: specializing in managed IT support for smaller healthcare practices, clinics, insurance companies, and nonprofit companies in Ventura County and San Fernando Valley. And have created cost-effective IT solutions, for over 20 years, specializing in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.

I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with organizations that include: the State of California, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE, Women's Business Centers, and Small Business Development Centers. As well as providing small business technology education programs through business and professional associations.

Contact me if you would like me to speak at your meeting.

Meanwhile, check out this report

Executive Report: 10 Hidden IT Risks That Might Threaten Your Business