Password security: What factors influence good password practices

This study will explore variances in password strength across demographics such as age, gender, ethnicity, and education level; organizational password rules; and security training. It also determines the degree to which the individual perception of security threats impacts password strength. By using both personal and employment based accounts, the study will examine whether individuals perceive personal or organizational security as more important. It will also investigate whether the type of account influences password selection. A proposed model for password selection will be described and used to determine if individuals select stronger passwords for accounts with password rules if they understand the risks involved in choosing poor passwords.