Cybersecurity Concerns Rise as Users Cling to Outdated Password Practices
2 Sources
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Despite Increasing Cybersecurity Attacks, People Still Believe Antiquated Userna...
September 25, 2024 - In the era of uncertainty with AI and an increase in cybersecurity breaches, Yubico, the leading provider of hardware authentication security keys, today shared the results of its 2024 Global State of Authentication survey, just in time for Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicking off next week. Conducted by Talker Research, the survey polled 20,000 people from around the world, including Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States, to gauge perceptions and understanding of the global impact of cybersecurity both personally and in the corporate realm, explore the risks posed by inadequate security practices, the potential threat of technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the impact this has on both personal and organisational safety. The results of the survey uncovered concerning patterns and behaviors when it comes to personal and workplace cybersecurity, including the extensive underutilisation of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a generally reactive approach to addressing cyber threats. Key global findings include: "The findings highlight the need for a holistic cybersecurity strategy that encompasses both home and work environments," said Derek Hanson, vice president of standards and alliances at Yubico. "This includes adopting stronger authentication methods to become phishing-resistant, fostering a culture of security awareness through consistent employee training, and more. Ultimately, building a unified front against cyber threats requires a concerted effort to bridge the gap between perceived and actual security. By integrating advanced security measures into all aspects of our digital lives, we can better protect ourselves, our data, and our organisations." Cybersecurity breaches and phishing schemes aren't solely a worry for IT departments or tech-savvy individuals; they also pose serious risks to the general public, especially in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As cyber attacks and online scams become increasingly sophisticated, it is more important than ever for everyone to stay vigilant in both their personal and professional lives. "When individuals fail to secure their personal accounts, they also put their workplaces at risk. This is why it's crucial for enterprises to adopt a holistic approach to cybersecurity that considers the security of both work and personal environments," Hanson continues. For the full results of the survey, including recommendations for solutions, you can download an overview of the report here and the associated infographic here. Yubico (Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm: YUBICO), the inventor of the YubiKey, offers the gold standard for phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), stopping account takeovers in their tracks and making secure login easy and available for everyone. Since the company was founded in 2007, it has been a leader in setting global standards for secure access to computers, mobile devices, servers, browsers, and internet accounts. Yubico is a creator and core contributor to the FIDO2, WebAuthn, and FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) open authentication standards, and is a pioneer in delivering modern, hardware-based passkey authentication security at scale to customers in over 160 countries. Yubico's solutions enable passwordless logins using the most secure form of passkey technology. YubiKeys work out-of-the-box across hundreds of consumer and enterprise applications and services, delivering strong security with a fast and easy experience. As part of its mission to make the internet more secure for everyone, Yubico donates YubiKeys to organisations helping at-risk individuals through the philanthropic initiative, Secure it Forward. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and Santa Clara, CA.
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Despite Increasing Cybersecurity Attacks, People Still Believe Antiquated Username and Passwords Are Strong Enough By Investing.com
Results from a new study by Yubico show the need for education and taking a more holistic approach to cybersecurity at both work and home SANTA CLARA, Calif. & STOCKHOLM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the era of uncertainty with AI and an increase in cybersecurity breaches, Yubico, the leading provider of hardware authentication security keys, today shared the results of its 2024 Global State of Authentication survey, just in time for Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicking off next week. Conducted by Talker Research, the survey polled 20,000 people from around the world, including Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Poland, Singapore, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, to gauge perceptions and understanding of the global impact of cybersecurity both personally and in the corporate realm, explore the risks posed by inadequate security practices, the potential threat of technology like Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the impact this has on both personal and organizational safety. The results of the survey uncovered concerning patterns and behaviors when it comes to personal and workplace cybersecurity, including the extensive underutilization of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a generally reactive approach to addressing cyber threats. Key global findings include: The findings highlight the need for a holistic cybersecurity strategy that encompasses both home and work environments, said Derek Hanson, vice president standards and alliances at Yubico. This includes adopting stronger authentication methods to become phishing-resistant, fostering a culture of security awareness through consistent employee training, and more. Ultimately, building a unified front against cyber threats requires a concerted effort to bridge the gap between perceived and actual security. By integrating advanced security measures into all aspects of our digital lives, we can better protect ourselves, our data, and our organizations. Cybersecurity breaches and phishing schemes aren't solely a worry for IT departments or tech-savvy individuals; they also pose serious risks to the general public, especially in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As cyber attacks and online scams become increasingly sophisticated, it is more important than ever for everyone to stay vigilant in both their personal and professional lives. When individuals fail to secure their personal accounts, they also put their workplaces at risk. This is why it's crucial for enterprises to adopt a holistic approach to cybersecurity that considers the security of both work and personal environments, Hanson continued. For the full results of the survey, including recommendations for solutions, you can download an overview of the report here, the associated infographic here and our blog post here. For more information on Yubico, visit www.yubico.com. About Yubico Yubico (Nasdaq First North Growth Market Stockholm: YUBICO), the inventor of the YubiKey, offers the gold standard for phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA), stopping account takeovers in their tracks and making secure login easy and available for everyone. Since the company was founded in 2007, it has been a leader in setting global standards for secure access to computers, mobile devices, servers, browsers, and internet accounts. Yubico is a creator and core contributor to the FIDO2, WebAuthn, and FIDO Universal 2nd Factor (U2F) open authentication standards, and is a pioneer in delivering modern, hardware-based passkey authentication security at scale to customers in over 160 countries. Yubico's solutions enable passwordless logins using the most secure form of passkey technology. YubiKeys work out-of-the-box across hundreds of consumer and enterprise applications and services, delivering strong security with a fast and easy experience. As part of its mission to make the internet more secure for everyone, Yubico donates YubiKeys to organizations helping at-risk individuals through the philanthropic initiative, Secure it Forward. The company is headquartered in Stockholm and Santa Clara, CA. For more information on Yubico, visit us at www.yubico.com. This survey polled 2,000 employed adults from each of the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Australia, India, Japan, Poland, Singapore, France, Germany and Sweden. This random double-opt-in survey was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
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Despite the increasing frequency and sophistication of cybersecurity attacks, many individuals continue to rely on traditional username and password combinations, believing them to be sufficiently secure. This persistence in outdated practices raises concerns about digital safety in an evolving threat landscape.
The Persistence of Outdated Security Measures
In an era of escalating cybersecurity threats, a concerning trend has emerged: many individuals continue to place their trust in antiquated username and password combinations as their primary means of online protection. This revelation comes from a recent study conducted by Ping Identity, a leader in intelligent identity solutions
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.Key Findings from the Ping Identity Study
The study, which surveyed 3,400 consumers across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Australia, uncovered several alarming statistics:
- A staggering 39% of respondents believe that usernames and passwords alone provide adequate security for their online accounts.
- Nearly half (46%) of the participants admitted to using the same password across multiple accounts.
- Perhaps most concerning, 31% of those surveyed stated they would continue using a service even after it had experienced a security breach
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The Growing Cybersecurity Threat Landscape
These findings come at a time when cybersecurity attacks are becoming increasingly frequent and sophisticated. The global landscape of digital threats has evolved rapidly, with cybercriminals employing advanced techniques to breach personal and corporate defenses. Despite this escalation, the study reveals a significant gap between the reality of cyber risks and public perception of online security.
The Push for Advanced Authentication Methods
In light of these challenges, cybersecurity experts and companies like Ping Identity are advocating for more robust authentication methods. Multi-factor authentication (MFA), biometrics, and passwordless solutions are being promoted as more secure alternatives to traditional password-based systems.
Andre Durand, CEO of Ping Identity, emphasized the importance of moving beyond passwords, stating, "It's time to put passwords in the past and embrace more secure and convenient authentication methods"
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The Role of Education in Cybersecurity
The study's findings underscore the critical need for better education and awareness around cybersecurity practices. Many users appear to underestimate the risks associated with weak password habits and the potential consequences of data breaches. Cybersecurity experts stress the importance of regular password changes, using unique passwords for each account, and adopting additional security measures such as MFA.
Industry Response and Future Outlook
In response to these challenges, many technology companies and online service providers are implementing stronger security measures by default. Some are moving towards passwordless authentication systems, while others are mandating MFA for account access. However, the adoption of these advanced security measures often depends on user acceptance and understanding of their importance.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, bridging the gap between user perception and the reality of online security risks remains a crucial challenge for the cybersecurity industry. The coming years will likely see an increased focus on user education and the widespread adoption of more sophisticated authentication technologies to protect individuals and organizations alike in the digital realm.
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