According to a survey released by Impermium, a developer of cloud security software, 26 percent have also declared they have had an online account hacked, breached or passwords stolen.
The same source points out that although many consumers have experienced online threats, they remain reluctant to embrace two-factor authentication (2FA) to help secure their accounts. As commonly implemented by online service providers, 2FA requires the use of a code sent via SMS message or automated voice call in addition to a user name and password to access an account in certain circumstances. Results show that three quarters of respondents have never use 2FA. Furthermore, 27 percent have stated they would stay away from a website offering 2FA because they didnt want to disclose their mobile number or the process was inconvenient.
In addition to not trusting online websites with their cell phone numbers, 39 percent of respondents also blame websites for account compromises. The study unveils that another 37 percent have tagged weak passwords and consumer gullibility as the primary cause of account breaches.
According to Impermium CEO and former Yahoo spam czar Mark Risher, cited by online media outlet CSO Online, 2FA doesnt solve the problem, in part, because the adoption rates are so abysmally low. 2FAs appeal might be improved by offering methods for delivering codes other than SMS messages, but that can have additional security consequences. On the other hand, online vendors are concerned that boosting authentication requirements will lead to abandoned shopping carts and lost purchases.
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