---

TechLife | 09 May 2012 :  An Internet safety and security awareness campaign for teens has been launched in Dublin this week. The Irish Reporting and Information Security Service (IRISSCERT) is running the campaign based on the theme of 'treating your password like a toothbrush'.

As part of the initiative, IRISSCERT will be handing out free toothbrushes along with leaflets to highlight how best to use passwords securely.

A recent survey of teenagers revealed that 62% did not use a password on their smartphone, 36% shared passwords with close friends or relatives and 56% never changed their passwords.

Brian Honan, head of IRISSCERT, said: "Given that the internet and in particular social media plays such a large part in the lives of teenagers and young adults it is worrying that such a large percentage of those surveyed are not aware of how to securely manage their passwords."

According to IRISSCERT, the characteristics of a good password are that it contains at least eight letters, is made up of numbers and symbols, doesn't represent a word in the dictionary, reference to personal information, and should be different for every system, website, application or service. Passwords shouild also be changed often for additional security.

Fiona Donnellan