Student Perceptions Of Password Security And Maintenance

Abstract

Increasing concerns about security and privacy have raised the bar for interest in ways to protect information. Although newer approaches include face recognition, the use of passwords is commonly used today as the best approach for protecting data. Web sites, software programs, financial institutions universities, and many commercial stores are requiring that a password include the following attributes: consist of a fixed number of characters, include numbers and letters, special characters and lower and upper case letters. In addition, repetition of a password is not allowed, i.e. the updated password must be original to the user. These circumstances are just a few of the requirements that have made generating a password somewhat of a challenge. Many institutions also require changing a password on a regular schedule. The growth of the use of password coupled with the frequency of changing these codes have made the creation and use of passwords a challenging necessity.

This paper explores how students view and use password protection. One of the questions addressed in this research is: Do student attitudes toward password protection impact how passwords are used? Another inquiry discussed in this paper is perception of the importance of the use of passwords. Interest in using an automated tool to facilitate use of password protection is also explored. Evidence connecting the use of passwords and the habits developed by undergraduates in protecting their information are also explored in this paper. Some of the questions addressed in this research include the following:

• How many web sites do you visit that require a password?

• Given the following classifications: personal banking, social networking, shopping, and gaming, how many websites of each type do you use that require passwords?

• How do you view the importance of password security?

• How many passwords do you use?

• How often do you change your password(s) voluntarily?

• How often do you change your password(s) because you are required to?

• Do you find it challenging to change your passwords, given many sites requirements, to include a capital letter, symbol or other character?

• Are you familiar with any software that aids in creation and/or saving of your personal passwords? If so, which software?

• Would you be interested in such a tool, if you aren’t familiar with one?

• Of the following devices: desktop, iPad, laptop, and cell phone, how would you rate the importance of securing them with password protection?

The findings of the survey help to understand the perspective of today’s students and how to address the critical need to secure their passwords. The consequence of misapplying a password can lead to frustration, loss of information, and delays in accessing data. The practice of employing an automated password tool is seen as a solution to the complexities of creating and applying passwords.

This research contributes to understanding some of the attitudes and habits of students in their use of passwords. Approximately 94% of the respondents to the survey felt that password protection was important. The perception of the degree of trouble of changing password was almost evenly divided between a high level of difficult and a low level of difficulty among the students surveyed. The majority of students in the study (57%) are interested in learning about a software tool to automate password management.

In terms of the relationships between the perceptions and the behaviors reported in the survey, it was found that there is a significant relationship between the number of sites requiring passwords and the use of passwords. There was also a significant relationship between the difficulty in changing passwords and interest in an automated tool.