Google’s Report: 1.5% Of Chrome’s User Passwords Are Unsafe

In February, Google launched Password Checkup, its new Chrome’s extension. Once you installed it, Google will check the passwords you used to login to any website. If it is now unsafe due to a data breach, Password Checkup will send you an alert to change it.

Google’s Report: 1.5% Of User Passwords Are Unsafe

According to Google’s recent report called "New Research: Lessons from Password Checkup in action," the company analyzed data from 21 million logins from 650,000 users in the first month after the extension was launched. The results showed that more than 316,000 user passwords were compromised, which is about 1.5%.

The report also pointed out that users are unaware of the risks of choosing weak passwords or reusing unsafe ones. Although they have received an alert from Password Checkup, a lot of them keep using the unsafe one or reused it on their entertainment, financial or government emails.

Worse, recycling weak passwords also happens on shopping websites, where users store their credit card information. With popular sites, users are 2.5 times more likely to reuse insecure passwords. This could leave their account vulnerable.

How To Keep Your Password Safe?

Google’s report also showed the way to protect your account. Use the Password Checkup extension on Google Chrome. And if you receive an alert, reset your password. Make sure that your new password is as strong or stronger than the old one. That will make it harder for attackers to identify your new password.

The company also added two new features for this extension. With the first feature, you can inform Google via the comment box if you’re having any problems. The second one will give you more control over your data, allow you to opt-out of the anonymous telemetry that the extension reports.