The majority of Germans risk their online security through poor password management: 57 percent of Internet users use the same password for several or even all logins. It seems tempting to solve the problem with artificial intelligence: 28 percent would have an AI like ChatGPT help them create passwords.
Many people don't see the risk in this: 40 percent are little (29%) or not at all (11%) worried that an AI application could, conversely, crack their passwords more easily. These are the results of a current study commissioned by the email provider WEB.DE on today's password security day.
“The new generation of AI tools like ChatGPT is seriously changing digital life and bringing many advantages. Unfortunately, convenience also has its price here. Anyone who has a password created or checked by an AI should at least change it slightly so that it is not stored in an AI or can be reproduced by another AI. To best secure your online accounts, you should use your own strong password for each service, keep it confidential and, if possible, activate two-factor authentication.”
Jan Oetjen, managing director of the email provider WEB.DE
Sloppy password protection
Another risk is the use of personal information in passwords: 40 percent of respondents use dates such as birthdays (13%), pet names (11%) or important anniversaries (11%). Much of this data is often freely available online on social media, making it easy to guess passwords - with artificial intelligence making this even easier.
“This negligence is particularly serious when it comes to your own email inbox: If online criminals take over the account, they don’t just get access to the email content. They can often also reset passwords on other services or make online purchases using their victims’ identities.”
Jan Oetjen, managing director of the email provider WEB.DE
Worry about identity theft
The fear of such identity theft is great: 53 percent of Germans fear that online criminals will make purchases on the Internet in their name or create new accounts in order to commit crimes. Around half of those surveyed (47%) are worried that strangers could break into their online accounts with stolen passwords.
Password management is a headache for many people
For most people, managing their own online security is purely a mental matter: 41 percent of those surveyed simply remember their passwords. A good third (31%) write down access data on a piece of paper, and around one in five (19%) uses software such as a password manager or the password saving function on their smartphone.
Many would like more simplicity: If Germans could replace passwords altogether, most (31%) would opt for a biometric solution such as a fingerprint or facial scan. However, only a few people make use of the opportunity to check their own accounts for data leaks: almost one in four (24%) uses online services such as haveibeenpwned.com for a security check.
About the study
The market research company Bilendi & respondi surveyed a total of 1,000 German Internet users aged 18 and over in March 2023. The results of the survey are representative. Further information and tips with the latest password recommendations from WEB.DE are available at https://newsroom.web.de.
About Password Security Day
WEB.DE has been proclaiming “Password Security Day” since 2011 to increase internet users’ awareness of passwords. On this day, the Internet portal calls for people to choose secure passwords and to provide each service with its own complex password.
About WEB.DE
WEB.DE is Germany's leading email and communication platform. 17 million customers receive an extensive portfolio of content and services with a focus on email, cloud, news, digital identity, organization and entertainment. As a co-founder of the “E-Mail made in Germany” initiative, WEB.DE focuses on data protection and data security. Both emails and cloud content can be easily and conveniently encrypted “end-to-end”. With De-Mail, WEB.DE offers a solution for legally binding digital communication with companies and authorities, which is also eIDAS certified. As a cooperation partner of Deutsche Post, WEB.DE enables the receipt of letter content via email. In addition to free basic services, WEB.DE also offers higher-quality email and cloud solutions as well as mobile phone, energy and insurance contracts.
Source: WEB.DE
Related: AI-generated passwords: curse or blessing?
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