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One in three people still jot down their computer password on a slip of paper, compromising a system’s security, says a study released by Nucleus Research, a global research firm, and KnowledgeStorm. Because of this, companies are being urged to adopt safer methods, like biometrics.

An EWeek article pointed out that companies attempts to tighten IT security by regularly changing and adopting more complex passwords (i.e. those with numbers and letters and symbols) are being undermined by employees still writing down their entire password on a slip of paper (if you recall, a recent blog of mine, Master the Password, recommended only writing down the key for each level of password).

David O’Connell, senior analyst at Nucleus Research, told Reuters, "This is really a lot like mom and dad buying a great new security system for the house and junior leaving the combination under the door mat."

Because of this, the study of 325 US employees found that single sign-on systems are about as effective as more complex schemes. "Passwords are high maintenance. People forget them, people lose them, they have to be reset. Resending passwords is time intensive and costly. It takes up time at a help desk," said O'Connell.”

The report suggested companies employ more sophisticated security methods such as biometrics, voice recognition, thumbprint scanners, or cognitive biometrics (which is the system that learns characteristics about you while you tell a story in the form of multiple choice answers).

Posted by pschooff in Better Protection • Small Medium Enterprise |Digg This|Add to del.icio.us

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