Passwords reveal your personality

The word or phrase that you use to open your email account may provide a key to your personality as well as to your correspondence, according to a British psychologist. Helen Petrie, professor of human / computer interaction at City University in London, analysed the responses of 1,200 Britons who participated in a survey funded by CentralNic, an Internet domain-name company. The results were recently published on CentralNic's website.

Petrie identifies three main password 'genres'. 'Family oriented' respondents numbered nearly half of those surveyed. These people use their own name or nickname, the name of a child, partner, or pet, or a birth date as their password. They tend to be occasional computer users and have strong family ties. 'They choose passwords that symbolize people or events with emotional value,' says Petrie. One third of respondents were 'fans', using the names of athletes, singers, movie stars, fictional characters, or sports teams. Petrie says fans are young and want to alty themselves with the lifestyle represented by a celebrity. Two of the most popular names were Madonna and Homer Simpson. The third main group of participants are 'cryptics' because they pick unintelligible passwords or a random string of letters, numerals, and symbols such as 'Jxa+157'. Petrie says cryptics are the most security-conscious group. They tend to make the safest but least interesting choices.

Passwords are revealing for two reasons. First, because they are invented on the spot. 'Since you are focused on getting into a system, for example your email account, you're likely to write down something that comes quickly to mind,' says Petrie. 'In this sense passwords tap into things that are jurt below the surface of consciousness. Also, to remember your password, you pick something that will stick in your mind. You may unconsciously choose something of particular emotional significance.