Sales Of Fingerprint Technology Computers Soar As New Survey Reveals Brits' Password Confusion

Demand for fingerprint protected computers has soared because lazy Britons suffer from password fatigue when trying to log on.

Sales of computers and laptops equipped with the latest technology have risen an astonishing 91 per cent in the past three months as consumers look for better ways to safeguard their personal details and prevent against the risk of identity fraud.

Electrical retailer Comet revealed last week one in 14 computers and laptops (seven per cent) being bought now feature the latest fingerprint sensors, where the owner has to scan their fingerprint, making it impossible for unauthorised use.

The new survey suggests that the popularity of products with enhanced technology could be down to Britons becoming confused about which passwords they choose to protect their computers.

Worryingly, over one in three people (36 per cent) use the same password to log into files on home and work computers and over seven out of ten use fewer than four passwords in total.

Three quarters, 76 per cent, choose their partner's name, child's name or pet's name.

37 per cent of men have used their football team or name of their favourite player and a couldn't-care-less 11 per cent of those questioned admitted to using the word "password" to gain entry to their personal computer.

The research, which questioned over 1300 customers, found only 24 per cent confessed to taking the simplest of security measures to mix up letters and numbers in a password. Even then half of these admitted to using their own Christian or middle name and birthday.

The results of the research reveals that people are failing to heed advice to regularly change passwords in order to keep computer rogues at bay. More than half (51 per cent) say they are more concerned about forgetting their password than they are about computer security and hackers.

Even when people opt for an unusual password they write it down in a document file on their computer, in their mobile phone memory, in diaries or on pieces of paper which they leave in desk drawers. 64 per cent admitting writing down passwords they used for bank accounts.

Continued on next page Tags: Interfaces, Logging/Tracking, Personal Privacy, Physical Security