Password Coping Mechanisms
Primary Investigator:
Melissa Dark
Dr. Melissa Dark, Austin Klasa
Abstract
Passwords are the most common means of authenticating users. The number of passwords that a user must select and manage is increasing, and password policies can be complex; the result is that users develop coping mechanisms. Password coping mechanisms are any password selection and management behavior used to cope with the large number of passwords a user must remember for multiple accounts, and the complexity of password policies. While users motivation for using coping mechanisms is understandable, coping mechanisms can be a security threat. This research project analyzes users passwords to determine the prevalence of password coping mechanisms.