"Why Older Adults Use (And Do Not Use) Password Managers"

A team of researchers from the George Washington University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, conducted a study in which they explored what motivates or prevents the adoption of password managers among older adults over the age of 60. The team interviewed participating older adults in three groups: those who use built-in password managers provided by browsers or operating systems, those who use separately installed password managers, and those who do not use password managers. Findings of the study revealed that security concerns outweighed the perceived benefits of using password managers. Those who use password managers expressed satisfaction with their experiences as they feel confident in using features such as the password generator and auto-fill. Older adults who do not use a password manager still think that their current method of storing passwords, like writing them down, is safe and easy. All three groups agreed that financial accounts were the most important to secure as any attack on them could result in significant damage. The researchers also found that older adults who did adopt a password manager had a more positive experience than younger adults. This article continues to discuss the findings from the study on why older adults use or do not use password managers and how these findings differ from that of the study on younger adults' password manager use.

The George Washington University reports "Why Older Adults Use (And Do Not Use) Password Managers"