Most People Still Write Important Passwords Down, Bitdefender Report Finds

The end of passwords has been touted for years, but they are still here. In fact, they’re more critical than ever. Bitdefender’s 2024 Consumer Cybersecurity Assessment Report offers a glimpse into how people handle their password security and reveals some practices that are definitely not secure.

Living in a world without passwords would be nice, but that future is still far away. Certificates, biometrics, and passkeys are no doubt slowly replacing them, but passwords are still used as backups and remain the primary authentication method for many people.

Global Overview

Bitdefender’s 2024 Consumer Cybersecurity Assessment Report showed 37% of respondents admit to writing down their passwords. Additionally, 18.7% use the same password for three or more accounts, while 15.8% use the same password for at least two accounts.

This behavior is dangerous mainly because it exposes users to data breaches and other security risks.

On the other hand, things are starting to improve on other fronts. Around 22.9% of respondents use a password manager, which is much better and safer than the Internet browser of choice. Meanwhile, 17.3% rely on their browser’s autofill feature, and 14.4% use their operating system’s autofill options.

Regional Differences

Of course, not everyone has the same conduit, and it appears to differ substantially from country to country.

• Italy leads in risky behaviors, with almost half of respondents (41%) writing down their passwords.
• Germany and Australia are more likely to use the same password across multiple accounts.
• The United States reveals a more balanced approach, with a slightly higher usage of password managers compared to the global average.

The findings also detail the use of browser-based autofill features, which are most popular in France and least used in the UK.

Key Takeaways

The data underscores a clear message: while people still heavily rely on outdated and unsafe password practices, password managers and secure autofill options are on the rise.

The sheer number of data breaches should give pause to anyone, prompting users to reevaluate how they use passwords and what they actually do after their credentials have been compromised.

If one key takeaway can be drawn from this data, it is that we don’t have to be afraid of long passwords. But more importantly, we should really focus on using unique passwords and relying on password managers to remember them. Most online services will fall victim to data breaches - and it’s not a matter of “if.” There’s no reason to compromise other accounts because we use the credentials over and over.

Of course, it’s better to be prepared for a data breach by using a service such as Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection that can help you see your digital footprint and immediately find if your personal data and identity are at risk following a data breach.