How safe are your passwords?

A new report by Intel Security shows that 32 percent of the survey respondents in the U.S. said they know their significant others bank or credit card password(s). The survey consisted of 2,507 adults aged 18-54, who are online and use Internet-connected devices in North America (US), Asia Pacific (Australia, Singapore), and Latin America (Brazil, Mexico).

We are all use to the admonition to:
• Don’t write them down.
• Don’t store them in a Word doc on your desktop.
• Don’t share your password over the phone or by email.
• Don’t ever give your password to anyone under any circumstances.

Other passwords are shared more readily:
• More than half (55 percent) of those surveyed in the United States, for instance, know their partner’s Facebook password (and vice versa).
• Just under half (46 percent) indicated they know their significant others email or PC password
• and 45 percent reported knowing the others cell phone password.

Michelle Dennedy of Intel Security suggest you have to find the balance between being vigilant about protecting your passwords and securing your online identity, and being honest and sharing with the most important people in your life.

One possible solution would be to use some sort of escrow service like Planned Departure. You can keep your passwords and information private while you’re alive, but let a trusted third party store them and provide them to your loved ones in the event of your death.