When it comes to passwords, the Brits beat Americans in securing personal data online. It is, however, the Germans, who come out on top, according to latest research conducted by Dashlane.
Dashlane analysed the average password security score of over 50,000 of its most active users from the last year. The UK posted an average score of 60.37, 20% higher than the 51.68 score achieved by the Americans. Germany posted an average score of 67.51, relegating the UK to second place.
The research highlighted the issue between personal online security compared with professional security.
On average, the data revealed, the passwords Britons create for business sites are nearly 10% stronger than those they create for personal sites such as online personal banking and finance.
"It’s very important not to underestimate the risks encountered when storing personal data online," says Guillaume Desnoës, Head of European Markets, Dashlane.
"Unfortunately, we’ve found that Britons are less protected on sites for personal use than they are when using professional software, leaving their private lives and personal information open to the threat of hackers."
Another interesting trend unearthed by the research is the fact that, on average, younger Dashlane users employ stronger passwords than their elders. Last year, those aged 34 and under had an average security score of 65.65 whilst those aged 54 and above had an average security score of 55.1.
"After studying our data, it’s clear to see that European users are starting to take their online security more seriously," adds Guillaume. "In the UK, this is probably due to a combination of factors, notably the recent drive of cybersecurity initiatives such as Cyberwise and the UK government-supported Get Safe Online. These campaigns, coupled with recent, high-profile security breaches of major retail businesses, have created heightened public interest in online security."
