While your online passwords are your key to accessing everything from your social networks to your finances, they are also a major target for cybercriminals. There are countless bots tirelessly working to generate login passwords, so it's in your best interest to make their job as difficult as possible. The last thing you want is to have to call a spyware or virus removal service in Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Virginia because a hacker has cracked your code and invaded your computer system.

But according to a study released by the University of Cambridge in England, online passwords are so lax that 1 percent of them "can be cracked within 10 guesses." Jason Bonneau, a Gates Scholar at the university, had access to 70 million yahoo accounts for his research. The source reports that password security was "low across the board," even for online bank accounts.

And while younger generations are known for being more technologically savvy, they also proved to be a bit more irresponsible in terms of password security. The study showed that baby boomers in general had much stronger passwords, even though younger generations probably have more online accounts containing personal information. 

Bonneau also found that little could be done to increase the security of user-generated passwords. If websites implemented stricter guidelines, then account holders tended to simply switch to the new bare minimum. Also, even after someone's account had been hacked into, requiring virus or spyware removal, that user wasn't any more likely to come up with a better password.

The best way to protect your system from a cyberattack is by doing everything you can to keep your personal accounts secure. But if you think your system has been hacked, a quality computer repair company like Geeks On-site can provide quick and efficient spyware and virus removal in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.