Watch your password!

Research released by credit reference agency Experian claims to show that the careless use of passwords on the internet is creating an identity theft paradise.

The research reveals that more than half of UK internet users use the same credentials on several or all of their online services, as well as never changing their details unless promoted to do so. 57% admitted that their data on social networking sites was being used as a password.

The 2,000 user survey also revealed that three of the most regularly used passwords -- town of birth, date of birth and name of past schools -- also feature in the top 10 personal details that users publish on online social networking portals.

The survey found that 18% of respondents would post their town of birth on a social networking profile, but only 3% would give the same data to a stranger over the phone.

Source: Infosecurity.