A new survey released by Auth0 on World Password Day reveals the frustrations of password management.
Auth0 has released a new survey on World Password Day which promotes better password habits.
The research, commissioned by identity management experts Auth0 working with YouGov, asked more than 1,200 business leaders and 8,000 consumers around the world about their expectations for online login and sign-up experiences.
According to the Asia Pacific consumers surveyed, when using a new website or online service, the main frustrations are creating a password that has to meet certain requirements (53%), entering private information such as a passport number, tax file number, medical card number, etc (52%) and having to fill in long login or sign up forms (50%).
In fact, consumers across APAC find password management more frustrating than their European counterparts. Only 44% of consumers surveyed in Europe find creating a password that must meet certain requirements frustrating, and 42% are frustrated by having to enter private information.
This frustration leads to 89% of APAC consumers reusing passwords for more than one account – and more than half (51%) admitted to doing so frequently. And it’s not just in Asia Pacific. Across the world, password reuse is still alive and well, with nearly nine in ten consumers (88%) admitting to the practice.
Richard Marr, General Manager, APAC at Auth0, said: “Consumers are frustrated with the standard password and username method of authentication. As humans, we aren’t suited to remembering long, complex alphanumeric combinations, and need easier, faster and more secure forms of authentication, and it’s partly because of this that we’re seeing a rise in successful cybercrime. It’s time we consider the role of businesses in promoting a safer Internet by offering more secure and convenient alternatives to passwords.”
For businesses
“For businesses, this is an opportunity to listen to their customers and make changes to the login process. Technologies exist to stop users from getting frustrated, while protecting them against fraud,” said Marr.
“Passwordless and biometric security are already mainstays of multifactor authentication, and adaptive technologies are already on the market that can offer that security without the friction.
“We need to see technology adapt to humans, not the other way around. Passwords will inevitably make way for alternatives that are driven by the adoption of the WebAuthn standard, but businesses need to prepare for that transition now.”
For consumers
“These findings show that for many of us, the password hygiene message simply hasn’t yet sunk in deeper than the frustrations we feel,” said Marr.
“This means our personal data, often across multiple platforms and accounts, could be at risk. World Password Day is the perfect reminder for all of us to take stock of our apps and online accounts, and carve out a bit of time today to download a password manager across our devices and develop strong, unique passwords.”
Dr Catarina Katzer, a leading cyber psychologist, added: “The majority of online users are now well aware that there are security problems with using the same username and password combination to register for multiple services. But we try to suppress that psychologically in the brain. The more extensive a registration process appears, the less inclined we are to go through with it. Convenience and simplicity play a major role here, which means we need to rethink security in a way that doesn’t compromise the customer experience.”
