Password resetting is a huge problem, as revealed by new research from NordPass. According to the survey, 58% of people reset their passwords because they can’t remember or find them.
Why are password resets dangerous?
Password resets are annoying, but, according to security experts, they can also create a security loophole. For example, a password reset link is commonly sent via an email. “If someone gained access to your email, they could easily request password resets for your other accounts that hold very private information,” says Chad Hammond, a security expert at NordPass.
Another common practice for resetting passwords involves answering “secret” security questions, which are in fact not that secret. “A little social media search can reveal your mother’s maiden name, your hometown, or your pet’s name,” he adds.
Which passwords do people reset the most often?
According to NordPass’s research, the most forgotten are email passwords. In total, 40% of people who are searching for ways to reset a certain password want to know how to reset their email password. Among various email providers, Gmail is the leading one.
“Despite the growing demand for cybersecurity tools like NordVPN and NordLocker, which help users stay safe online and protect their data, people still don’t pay enough attention to their password hygiene,” says Chad Hammond.
How to escape the password reset loop?
The problem is so common that NordPass has even created a campaign with a TV commercial addressing it. The commercial is rapidly gaining traction, as people are finding they can relate to the issue. Website visits alone increased after the first blast of its public appearance.
“This is just another illustration of how painful it is for internet users to constantly change and reset passwords. The main problem is that people rely on passwords that can be found in a dictionary when they could be using a system that generates secure passwords and stores them without the user ever having to reset them,” says Chad Hammond, a security expert at NordPass.
“Just like with any other annoying loop in life, such as constantly missing your train stop or running out of a roll of toilet paper, there’s a solution for endless password resets. Although we might never learn our lesson and run into the same issues again and again, employing a password manager will help you escape the password reset loop,” Chad Hammond concludes.
