Password should be varied broadband users are told

The latest advice from internet security experts is to use a unique password for every site visited in an effort to reduce the risk of becoming just another casualty of fraud on the internet.

New advice from experts to help escape becoming an online fraud victim is for broadband users to make sure that they use differing passwords to access every website they visit. With many hackers finding it easy to retrieve personal details online and access personal bank accounts, internet security has recently become a serious issue for many broadband users.

This risk can, however, be reduced by broadband users entering varying log-in information on website that retain personal or sensitive information, according to senior technical consultant at Sophos, Graham Cluley.

Graham explained that by doing this, users can reduce the amount of information gained by fraudsters if they only gain access to one account. Forums and message boards often contain “less sensitive” information and as such will be much less of a problem if someone works out their password and gains access to their account.

With sites like these Mr Cluley advised that it “doesn’t really matter” if the same passwords are used, but did say that avoiding the use of dictionary passwords for these sites was still something that should be adhered to.

He then explained that more complex passwords should be used for login details for shopping accounts and online banking site in order to reduce any risks of discovery.

He insisted “When it’s critical information like financial information or something to do with your identity, then you should be using different passwords.”

The underestimation of the threat posed by organised cybercriminals was recently revealed in a survey by Accenture and the comments from Mr Cluley were made in an effort to make people more aware of online fraud amongst broadband users. The survey also revealed that 88 of the 800 people in the UK and US that took part felt that personal irresponsibility was one of the main causes of online identity theft.