Consumers would welcome an alternative to passwords
It's a safe bet that part of the reason why so many people use easy-to-guess passwords like "123456" and "password" is because proper password security is a bother. This notion is underscored by a new survey suggesting that Internet users at large are very much open to password alternatives to protect their online accounts.
Accenture Research pinged 24,000 people spread out across half a dozen continents about their feelings towards passwords. Some 60 percent said they find usernames and passwords to be cumbersome, and more than three-fourths -- 77 percent, to be exact -- said they're interested in alternatives to passwords.
The challenge of having to remember hard-to-guess passwords isn't the only reason why Internet users want a change, they're also concerned with how secure passwords truly are.
"The widespread practice of typing usernames and passwords to log on to the Internet might soon become obsolete," said Robin Murdoch, managing director of Accenture’s Internet and Social business segment. "Consumers are increasingly frustrated with these traditional methods because they are becoming less reliable for protecting their personal data such as email addresses, mobile phone numbers and purchasing history."
Interestingly, only 46 percent of respondents said they're confident in the security of their personal data. It's also not all that surprising, given how many hacker incidents (both big and small) occur on a yearly basis.
Are you content with passwords, or do you think it's time for a change in online security?
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