Computer security remains lax, with a new survey showing that most office workers would give away their computer passwords in exchange for a cheap pen.

The survey, by Infosecurity Europe 2003, found that 90 per cent of office workers at Waterloo Station gave away their computer password for a pen, compared with 65 per cent last year.

Men were slightly more likely to reveal their password with 95 per cent of men and 85 per cent of women revealing their password. The study also found the majority of workers would take confidential information with them when they changed jobs and would not keep salary details confidential if they came across them.

Workers were asked a series of questions which included what is your password, to which 75 per cent immediately gave their password. If they initially refused, they were asked which category their password fell into and then asked a further question to find out the password. A further 15 per cent then revealed their passwords.

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Related items

• Article: How to Use Passwords Securely (22 April 2003)
• Article: Implementing Basic Security Measures (14 April 2003)
• Article: Basic security with passwords (24 May 2002)