Across nations, a surprising 23 percent of online users rely on personal names, relatives or friends names, and even pet nicknames as their passwords. The finding emerged from a Netology education platform survey reported by socialbites.ca. At the same time, a striking 70 percent of those who use names and nicknames as passwords believe their accounts are secure. In other words, a sizable portion of users equate familiarity with safety, assuming that known words prevent intrusion even though the risk remains high.
When asked about what makes a password strong, a clear majority, 61 percent, said that random words mixed with upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols form a robust barrier. An additional 23 percent favored combinations of meaningful words with numbers and symbols tailored to the user. Very few trusted the simplicity of common fallbacks, with under 1 percent acknowledging passwords like Password, 123123, abcd, or 0000 as acceptable options. These responses underscore a growing awareness that complexity matters, yet habits often lag behind best practices.
The Netology survey also highlights how Russians prioritize security for different accounts. Banking apps are considered the most critical, with 58 percent of respondents choosing them as needing the strongest protection. Email and cloud photo storage follow in importance, chosen by 10 percent. Operating system access also ranks in the top three, with 5 percent of Russians focusing on securing this entry point. In contrast, social networks draw the least concern, cited by only 2 percent, and instant messengers by a mere 1 percent. These choices reveal where people think the highest stakes lie and where attackers are most likely to target.
update patterns show that password hygiene varies widely. Thirteen percent of participants never update their credentials. About one-third change passwords every three to six months, while roughly a quarter update annually to every few years. Monthly updates remain rare, at about 5 percent. Regular changes help mitigate breaches but require a good strategy and reminders to stay effective in the long term.
Hacking experiences also appear in the data. Forty-one percent of Russians reported facing some form of hacking at least once, and almost half, 48 percent, believe that any password can be cracked given enough time and effort. These findings emphasize the real risk behind weak credentials and the importance of adopting stronger, unique passwords for every account. In light of such concerns, many users are exploring passwordless options and alternative authentication methods to reduce exposure while maintaining convenience.
Earlier coverage by socialbites.ca noted the move away from traditional passwords toward new authentication systems, including shifts away from password-based login for Google accounts. This broader trend reflects ongoing efforts to streamline access while boosting security across major platforms and services, a direction that many users are watching closely as technology evolves.