Although we are accustomed to using fingerprint or face recognition on our smartphones, we still live with passwords. They are everywhere: for shopping online, for banking, for using a work computer… So many passwords are hard to remember. And not only this. Sometimes it gives us share passwords with a colleague, friend, family member or partner.

Netflix account, your personal email, mobile phone unlock code… Sharing passwords is what we do too much. Or so it follows from a survey conducted by a security firm Avast. 56% of respondents (more than 2000 Spanish men and women), knew someone else’s password. And 71% of those 56% knew the password. your partner. And 13% even from a former partner. Come on, password sharing is pretty common.

The million dollar question: are we doing the right thing? The survey itself gives us some clues. “Of those who know the password of their ex-partner or spouse, 50% admitted that still have access to accounts social networks of their ex, and 56% admitted that they can still access his or her work email account. On the other hand, “one in five Spaniards (21%) was subjected to someone gained access to your account and change your password(s) without your knowledge or consent. 37% attribute misuse of their password to their former partner.

Confidence and comfort, bad advisers

Whether your relationship ends well or badly, sharing passwords is a bad idea for many reasons. In the case identified during the survey AvastBreaking up a relationship has unforeseen consequences, such as the complete destruction of trust in that person. Consequently must change passwords what we shared. But that’s the mistake we made by sharing them.

social engineering He has been trusted by friends, family and associates for decades to trick us into getting much more than a simple password: personal details, banking information, and even a direct money transfer, as in the case of the WhatsApp scam. often today. And which, moreover, are combined with Bizum for getting money from scammers using your trust.

passwords unique and individual. At best, we can store them in a password manager so that we don’t have to remember them. But sharing them has drawbacks and security risks. For example, that the person we trust share this password with others. Voluntarily or as a victim of fraud or data theft. If the password is already in danger in your hands, even more so if it has been shared.

And although we recognize the danger, we continue to do so. Review LastPass A 2016 survey of 1,000 US users found that 95% of them shared passwords with others. Mostly a partner, but also children or colleagues. Curiously, 73% of those surveyed admitted that they were doing it wrong. Only 27% see no danger in sharing passwords with someone you trust.

Shared passwords can fall into the wrong hands

The dangers of password sharing

Sharing a password is a bad idea for many reasons. We will try to summarize them and compile a list of the most important ones. However, it is easy for us to leave something along the way and it will come to mind. And the fact is that the reasons for non-distribution of a key, code or password are closely related to each other.

  • You give access to Information which contains this account.
  • if you repeat password, you give access to multiple accounts at the same time.
  • You will never be 100% sure that someone who knows your password has will use it correctly.
  • Not all just as careful while saving the password.
  • Your password may fall into the wrong hands. And not your direct fault.
  • Using someone else’s account involves do something on your behalf.
  • They can delete your account without doing anything and not knowing who did it.
  • Sharing a password can be intercepted unless you are using secure methods.

Online purchases, bank details, emails, online applications, streaming platforms or online games… There are thousands of passwords that we can want to share with others. For work. Or save on the cost associated with this service. For comfort. Or just because we don’t thinking about the consequences what you can have At best, nothing will happen. In the worst case, they can invalidate the user account associated with the password. Or you can lose money if anyone knows how to access your bank account or card number.

Password managers help us share them securely

What to do if you are going to share passwords

You may have no choice but to share the password. At work or at home. Before you do it consider if there are alternatives. For example, if this access an online document, you can share it via the link. In this way, another person with their own account and without having to use your password will be able to view the document and/or edit it. And if it’s a password-protected document, try restricting sharing to a certain period of time. After this period, change password.

If there is no alternative and you need to share your password, try using safe method. To start, password managers current ones have characteristics of this type. This way you will have proof of who has that password and whether it has been compromised. In addition, in many cases the password itself is not disclosed, which guarantees security.

And if you are forced to share passwords through less secure channels like WhatsApp, Telegram or Signal, make sure message encryption enabled. And use temporary messages so that the password is not saved in the conversation.

Finally, it is recommended change passwords often. It’s always recommended, but even more so if you share them. This will reduce the chances of theft, misuse, reuse of your password by someone you no longer trust, repetition of passwords for multiple accounts, etc.

Source: Hiper Textual
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