From the early days of the web, the concept of authentication has been synonymous with the notion of ‘logging in,’ typically with a username and password. Today, this ubiquity has exploded to the point that the average individual has 191 usernames and passwords acting as one-to-one keys for any website they’ve registered with.
For some, this staggering number can be managed relatively securely with the use of password management software. But for most - two thirds of us, according to a Google survey - convenience trumps security. People opt for easy-to-remember passwords they reuse on different sites, rather than adhering to best practices.