eBook

The 2021 Psychology of Passwords Report

Outsmarting human vulnerabilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workplaces of millions worldwide. Physical offices shuttered. Many people transitioned to working from home.

During the pandemic:

71% Worked wholly or partly remotely.
70% Spent more time online for personal entertainment and work.

With nowhere to go, they spent more time online. And without a modern password policy, while there have been improvements, it is clear that now more than ever, improved password hygiene is needed.

Survey Overview

Our Psychology of Passwords report explores the password security behaviors of 3,750 professionals across seven countries. We asked respondents about their feelings and behaviors regarding online security. Here are a few quick takes from the 2021 Psychology of Passwords ebook.

Individuals and businesses are more at risk than ever.

Hackers are taking advantage and exploiting human vulnerabilities more than ever. The types of attacks have shifted given the large number of people working remotely and spending more time online. According to the 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), cybercriminals are increasingly targeting individuals and their devices.

Data breaches – involved a human element (phishing, stolen credentials, and human error).

Breaches last year involved phishing – 11% more than before.

Lots of awareness, not enough action

45% DID NOT CHANGE THEIR PASSWORDS 45% of survey respondents did not change their passwords in the past year even after a breach had occurred.

While the respondents told us they knew to create stronger passwords and now use MFA for certain accounts, most were not aware if their information was available on the dark web nor understood the risks of reusing login credentials.

With an increase of 50% more accounts in 2021 than in 2020, that results in a significant increase in risk vulnerability.

To compare the differences in year over year trends, especially during such a transitional time period, review the 2020 Psychology of Passwords report.