According to a study by Dashlane based on 50,000 users’ password security scores across US and Europe
UK Password Security Scores Surpass US
Britons have much stronger passwords than their US counterparts according to research carried out by password security specialist, Dashlane. The research also highlights thatGerman web users’password security is far ahead of that of other nations.
Dashlane analysed the average password security score of over50,000 of its most activeusers from the last year. The data showsthat the UK’s average score (60.37) was almost 20% higher than that of the US (51.68). In fact, the UK has the second highest score in Europe,with only Germany beating the Britishfor online security (with an average score of 67.51).
Work vs. Personal Password Strength in Britain
With this research, Dashlane also raises the question of the UK’s concern for personal online security compared with professional security. The datarevealsthat, on average,the passwords Britons create for business sites are nearly 10% stronger than those they create for personal sites such as onlinepersonal banking and finance. It would appear that British Dashlane users aren’t applyingthe same complexity to their personal passwords which protect theirmost important private data as they do with passwords to protect business and work-related data
“It’s very important not to underestimate the risks encountered when storing personal data online,” saysGuillaume Desnoës, Head of European Markets, Dashlane.“Unfortunately, we’ve found thatBritons are less protected on sites for personal use than they are when using professional software, leaving their private lives and personal information open to the threat of hackers.”
Younger Users Show Better Password Habits
Another interesting trend unearthed by the research is the fact that, on average, younger Dashlane usersemploy stronger passwords thantheir elders.Last year, those aged 34 and under had an average security score of 65.65 whilst those aged 54 and above had an average security score of 55.1.
“After studying our data, it’s clear to see that European users are starting to take their online security more seriously,” adds Guillaume.“In the UK, this is probably due to a combination of factors, notably the recent drive of cybersecurity initiatives such as Cyberwise and the UK government-supportedGet Safe Online. These campaigns, coupled with recent, high-profile security breaches of major retail businesses, have created heightened public interest in online security.”
How Dashlane Calculated Security Scores
For this researchDashlane looked at anonymised security scores from over 50,000 of its most active users across Europe and the US. These scores are based on the strength and diversity of users’ online passwords and help to expose their risks of being hacked. The password security expert has developed its security scoring system based on intelligent algorithms which are appliedfor each of its users. Dashlane analysesthis aggregate and anonymised dataregularly to offer advice toits users on how to improve their password security.
About Dashlane
Dashlane makes identity and payments simple and secure everywhere, with its world-leading password manager and secure digital wallet. It is the solution for the common problem encountered by hundreds of millions of web users worldwide – that of registering, logging in and checking out on every website and every device. Millions of people use Dashlane to manage their passwords, automatically log in, generate strong passwords, pay on anywebsite with any card without typing, and more. Its solution has won critical acclaim by top publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and USA Today. The company was founded in 2009 by Bernard Liautaud and co-founders Alexis Fogel, Guillaume Maron and Jean Guillou. Dashlane has offices in New York City and Paris, France, and is funded by Rho Ventures, FirstMark Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners. Learn more about Dashlane at Dashlane.com.
