Canadians are visiting more and more sites that require passwords, and we’re either writing them down, using the same ones, or having to reset our accounts more often.
A new study released by security vendor McAfee looking at the online surfing habits of Canadians, and our attitudes towards Web security and data protection, found that 57 per cent of Canadians regularly visit at least five or more sites requiring a password. That has led to 42 per cent of us writing them down somewhere, 54 per cent of us using the same easy passwords for multiple sites, and 78 per cent having to reset an account in the last six months because we’d forgotten the password.
That puts our data and risk, and the study also found that, while we’re aware of the risks, most of us aren’t adequately protecting our devices today. In response, McAfee has launched McAfee LiveSafe service, an unlimited cross-device security service using facial and voice recognition to confirm user identity and manage passwords.
“Our digital lives have become more complex as we connect, share and store data though multiple devices,” said Mike DeCesare, president of McAfee, in a statement. “Consumers deserve a convenient way to protect their identities no matter what type of device they use. The McAfee LiveSafe service delivers this through cutting-edge features combined with simplified security management and unprecedented data protection.”
Drawing in technology from parent company Intel, McAfee LiveSafe offers unlimited device security for PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets against viruses, malware and spam. A cloud-based “safety deposit box” lets users store sensitive documents, and can be accessed by biometric authentication using voice, face and device recognition technologies. The service also includes simplified password management, remote wipe, and customer support.
McAfee LiveSafe will be available in July 2013 for $19.99 for a 12 month subscription when buying a select new PC or tablet, or $79.99 for your existing devices.
