How many passwords do you have? If they're difficult to hack then how hard are they to remember and how often do one or two slip your mind? A Rutgers University study is looking at how we can improve not only password technology but password use.

They found that text-based passwords are hard to remember and so people tend to favour easy to remember ones that are also insecure. The study also found that human memory adapts based on our estimation of how often we’ll need certain passwords. These findings could help inform better designed log-in techniques.

"Our model could be used to predict the memorability of passwords, measure whether people remember them and prompt password system designers to provide incentives for people to log in regularly," said study co-author, Janne Lindqvist. "Logging in more often helps people remember passwords."

eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-09/ru-dyk090518.php