Psychology of Passwords

Password security in 2021: outsmarting human vulnerabilities.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the workplaces of millions worldwide. Physical offices shuttered. Many people transitioned to working from home. With nowhere to go, they spent more time online.

Individuals and businesses are more at risk than ever.

Hackers are taking advantage and exploiting human vulnerabilities more than ever. The types of attacks have shifted given the large number of people working remotely and spending more time online.

According to the 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR), Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting individuals and their devices.

• Most data breaches – a staggering 85% – involved a human element (phishing, stolen credentials, and human error).
• 36% of breaches last year involved phishing – 11% more than before.

Survey Overview

Our Psychology of Passwords report explores the password security behaviors of 3,750 professionals across seven countries. We asked respondents about their feelings and behaviors regarding online security.

Countries surveyed:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Australia
• Singapore
• India