Women are four times more likely to give out "passwords" in exchange for chocolate

SUBMAN1 · 04-16-08, 02:56 PM

Time to clamp down on women on security - they will do just about anything for a chocolate bar it seems!

-S

PS. Should this be filed under more worthless research?

Quote:

Women are four times more likely than men to give out "passwords" in exchange for chocolate bars.

A survey by of 576 office workers in central London found that women are far more likely to give away their computer passwords to total strangers than their male counterparts, with 45 per cent of women versus ten per cent of men prepared to give away their login credentials to strangers masquerading as market researchers.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/04...word_security/

Platapus · 04-16-08, 04:10 PM

I wonder who paid for this "research" probably some hapless taxpayers

Captain Vlad · 04-16-08, 04:33 PM

They didn't even bother to check and see if they got real passwords.

I wouldn't give up my password for a choclate bar, but I'd certainly make up a false one.

STEED · 04-16-08, 04:34 PM

So sex is out and passwords are in.

Kapitan_Phillips · 04-16-08, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

So sex is out and passwords are in.

*looks at his chocolate bar, then at Frau_Phillips*

..Bugger.

bookworm_020 · 04-16-08, 08:36 PM

Do I sense an Ig Noble prize for this research????:hmm:

Trex · 04-16-08, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bookworm_020

Do I sense an Ig Noble prize for this research????:hmm:

It deserves one.

Etienne · 04-17-08, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

So sex is out and passwords are in.

*looks at his chocolate bar, then at Frau_Phillips*

..Bugger.

There's a certain week out of every month where having chocolate handy is VERY helpful. Keep that bar around.

Geno_Mariner · 04-17-08, 03:30 AM

I wouldn't give out passwords for chocolates

But fake ones? Yes

04-17-08, 09:03 AM

I'd like to see a more controlled research set myself. Give them a password and such so that they'll think there's a reward, not a particularily big one, if they keep it to themselves for, say, two months, have them log in like once a week or so, to make sure they don't just forget it, then afterwards ask them to make the same trade and see what they get.

STEED · 04-17-08, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEED

So sex is out and passwords are in.

*looks at his chocolate bar, then at Frau_Phillips*

..Bugger.

`BUT'

No I don't think I've go there.

kurtz · 04-17-08, 10:41 AM

I'm developing a theory about all this 'research' that goes on.

Whenever someone has something to advertise like a security conference, or charity, or tv prog, they pay some cheapo pollsters to conduct a quick 'survey' about some vaguely connected subject.
In this case the survey was."are women bright enough to make up a password to get a free pen/chocalate bar".

I note again that facts have been altered to make a better headline by the ommision of the pen as a free gift.

Trex · 04-17-08, 12:17 PM

Of course, what is not stated is what rewards would make men four times as likely to hand over a password. I can think of a couple.

04-16-08, 04:10 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,375 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I wonder who paid for this "research" probably some hapless taxpayers __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

04-16-08, 04:33 PM	#3
Captain Vlad Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pollard, Oklahoma Posts: 679 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	They didn't even bother to check and see if they got real passwords. I wouldn't give up my password for a choclate bar, but I'd certainly make up a false one. __________________ "Stop sounding battlestations just to hear the alarm."

04-16-08, 04:34 PM	#4
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	So sex is out and passwords are in. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

04-16-08, 08:36 PM	#6
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Do I sense an Ig Noble prize for this research????:hmm: __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"

04-17-08, 03:30 AM	#9
Geno_Mariner Weps Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 369 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wouldn't give out passwords for chocolates But fake ones? Yes __________________

04-17-08, 09:03 AM	#10
orwell Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	I'd like to see a more controlled research set myself. Give them a password and such so that they'll think there's a reward, not a particularily big one, if they keep it to themselves for, say, two months, have them log in like once a week or so, to make sure they don't just forget it, then afterwards ask them to make the same trade and see what they get.

04-17-08, 10:41 AM	#12
kurtz Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Leighton Buzzard,England Posts: 660 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	I'm developing a theory about all this 'research' that goes on. Whenever someone has something to advertise like a security conference, or charity, or tv prog, they pay some cheapo pollsters to conduct a quick 'survey' about some vaguely connected subject. In this case the survey was."are women bright enough to make up a password to get a free pen/chocalate bar". I note again that facts have been altered to make a better headline by the ommision of the pen as a free gift. __________________ War without Fire is like sausages without mustard-Henry V. http://www.myvintagelife.co.uk/

04-17-08, 12:17 PM	#13
Trex Lieutenant Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 262 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Of course, what is not stated is what rewards would make men four times as likely to hand over a password. I can think of a couple.