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Brits at risk due to poor online practices

More than a fifth of British internet users are leaving themselves wide open to online threats and cyber attacks by using the same password for all their online accounts.

This has been highlighted by research from moneysupermarket.com, which shows that on average Brits are signed up to seven internet sites with 18 per cent of users deploying the same password for all of them.

Weak passwords blight many users as only 12 per cent of people using the sites for services such as internet banking or online shopping use the recommended mix of numbers and capitalised letters.

"People are signed up to dozens of services, many of which hold personal information such as bank, credit card and address details," said James Parker, the broadband manager at the price comparison site.

"It is crucial people take proper precautions to protect themselves from security threats such as phishing emails and malware, those that don't are leaving the door wide open to online thieves and hackers."

As well as strong passwords, consumers are advised to have regularly updated internet security software.

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