America’s Password Habits: Password Stolen Over the Last Year

 America’s Password Habits: Password Stolen Over the Last Year

Survey data reveals that social media accounts, reported by 29% of participants, are the most frequent targets for password hacking. This indicates a high risk in platforms where personal information is abundant.

Next, 15% of users experienced breaches in email accounts. The hacking of these accounts can lead to subsequent security issues in connected services. Home Wi-Fi networks, cited by 9% of respondents, also show vulnerability, often being less secure than professional networks.

Online shopping accounts, mentioned by 8%, are notable targets, posing risks of financial loss. Similarly, 8% reported breaches in their accounts at financial institutions, directly affecting their financial security.

Streaming services and public Wi-Fi hotspots each saw a 7% hacking rate, suggesting that entertainment and convenience services are not immune to cyber threats. Gaming platforms also faced a 7% breach rate, impacting both personal data and gaming experiences.

Healthcare accounts, with 6%, and biometric health data from devices, with 4%, show that health-related information is also at risk, raising concerns over privacy and data security.

These statistics highlight the need for specific security measures for each type of account to protect against diverse cyber threats.

Respondents say a weak password is the main reason their accounts were hacked

Weak passwords are a primary factor in account hacks, with 35% of respondents identifying this as the cause of their security breaches. This suggests that simple or easily guessable passwords remain a significant vulnerability for many users.

Close behind, 30% believe their accounts were compromised due to repeating the same password across multiple platforms. This practice increases the risk of multiple account breaches from a single compromised password.

Additionally, 27% attribute their account hacking to company data breaches, indicating that external security failures play a substantial role in individual account vulnerability.

Phishing attacks, deceptive tactics used to gain sensitive information, were responsible for 21% of the breaches, tied with malware, which also accounted for 21%. These methods prove the sophisticated tactics used by cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access.

Seventeen percent of participants were unsure of the cause of their account compromise, pointing to a lack of clarity or awareness about how these breaches occur. These insights emphasize the need for stronger, unique passwords and an understanding of common hacking tactics.

Over 75% report having personal information stolen from hacked accounts

The survey data shows a high incidence of personal information theft following password hacks. Seventy-seven percent of respondents report having personal information stolen, with hackers targeting different types of data.

The Forbes Advisor survey shows that 39% had their first and last names compromised. This is closely followed by phone numbers at 38% and personal addresses at 34%. Such information can lead to further privacy violations.

Credit card numbers were compromised for 25% of respondents, posing a direct financial risk. Social Security numbers, vital for identity security, were compromised for 24%, indicating a serious risk of identity theft.

Banking information was accessed in 22% of cases, while work addresses were compromised for 17% of respondents. This points to the extent to which both personal and professional data can be exposed.

A small percentage, 2%, reported other types of information being stolen, and 23% were unsure if any information was taken.

Politics and Society in Latin America

Maria Victoria Murillo is Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Columbia University. She received her BA from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and her PhD from Harvard University. She is the author of Labor Unions, Partisan Coalitions, and Market Reforms in Latin America (Cambridge University Press 2001) and Political Competition, Partisanship, and Policymaking in the Reform of Latin American Public Utilities (Cambridge University Press, 2009). She is also editor of Carreras Magisteriales, Desempeño Educativo y Sindicatos de Maestros en América Latina (Flacso 2003), and co-editor with Steven Levitsky of Argentine Democracy: the Politics of Institutional Weakness (Pennsylvania State University Press, 2005), and with Mario Pecheny and Roberto Gargarella of Discutir Alfonsín (Siglo XXI 2010). She has published in edited volumes as well as in the American Journal of Political Science, World Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, World Development, Latin American Research Review, Desarrollo Economico, and Foro Internacional, among others.

Juan Pablo Luna is Professor of Political Science at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He received his BA in Applied Social Sciences from the UCUDAL (Uruguay) and his PhD in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author of Segmented Representation. Political Party Strategies in Unequal Democracies (Oxford University Press, 2014), and has co-authored Latin American Party Systems (Cambridge University Press, 2010). In 2014, along with Cristobal Rovira, he co-edited The Resilience of the Latin American Right (Johns Hopkins University). His work on political representation, state capacity, and organized crime has appeared in the following journals: Comparative Political Studies, Revista de Ciencia Política, the Journal of Latin American Studies, Latin American Politics and Society, Studies in Comparative International Development, Política y Gobierno, Democratization, Perfiles Latinoamericanos, and the Journal of Democracy.

Andrew Schrank is the Olive C. Watson Professor of Sociology and International & Public Affairs at Brown University. He received his BA from the University of Michigan and his PhD from the University of Wisconsin. His articles on business, labor, and the state in Latin America have appeared in the American Journal of Sociology, Comparative Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Latin American Politics & Society, Social Forces, and World Development, among other journals, and his co-authored book, Root-Cause Regulation: Labor Inspection in Europe and the Americas, is forthcoming at Harvard University Press.