Streaming is stronger than love, according to a new survey by Aura, Americans continue to share passwords after the end of their relationships. Password sharing increases your chances to fall victim to a digital crime but 53% of Americans admit that they share their login with people outside of their immediate household. In turn, that spreads to about 3.5 other people according to the survey.
When relationships end and your partner becomes your ex, it doesn’t automatically mean your login information will get X’d out. The survey shows that 32% of adults still have access to their former friend or partner’s streaming services after their relationship/friendship has ended.
Some relationships/friendships conclusions don’t automatically end the password-sharing experience, as 11% have let a former partner or friend use their streaming service, however, 12% have had to explicitly ask a former partner or friend to stop using their streaming account after the relationship ended, according to the survey.
Even with the known risk of password sharing, 64% of U.S. adults admit they only change their passwords if they have to, which is just as many that use a password manager. Another takeaway from the data is that 38% of U.S. adults admitted that they use the same password for all or most of their online accounts, and the same percentage don’t understand what it would mean if their data were leaked as part of a breach. Another admission made during the study, 41% use the same password across personal and work accounts, and 19% share their frequently used passwords with someone outside their household.
The biggest takeaway from the survey is that users should practice good habits when it comes to cyber safety. Always, protect yourself and don’t let heartbreak cause a cyber break-in by sharing your login credentials. Using a password manager and 2-factor authentication are ways to help prevent fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime. Always, be mindful of what you share on social media and do not overshare, so bad actors can crack your passwords. Create complex passwords and if you think your passwords have been breached or compromised change them immediately.
Survey Method: The survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Aura from Aug. 13-17, 2021 among 2,050 adults ages 18 and older. Results were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. For complete survey methodologies, please contact [email protected].