Office workers sick of passwords
[Computer Shopper] Monday 19th April 2004 14:14
Office workers are sick and tired of passwords and would much rather log on to their IT systems using a smart card, fingerprint reader, or other biometric authentication device.
According to a survey by the organisers of the Infosec security conference, 80 per cent of those surveyed said they were fed up with using passwords and would prefer some kind of smart card or biometric device for authentication to secure systems, whether at home or home.
Claire Sellick, Event Director for Infosecurity Europe 2004, said: 'Clearly the workers are fed up with having to remember multiple passwords, and would be happy to replace them with alternative identification technology such as biometrics or smartcards.'
Workers said they had to remember an average of four passwords. Methods of doing so ranged from passwords being written on a whiteboard for everyone to see, to creating a bespoke computer program on which to store and retrieve them safely.
The most common password was admin, while family names, football teams and pets were the driving force behind most others.
Of the 172 people surveyed, 71 per cent offered their password willingly when asked, indicating that workers are not only fed up with them, but they are not proving a secure method of authentication in the first place. Indeed, nearly half said that if they were asked for their password by someone claiming to be from IT they would offer it.
Are the days of password authentication numbered? Leave a comment via the link below.
Matt Whipp
pcpro.co.uk
steve |
