Username and password still most common method of web ID

In 2020, three in four people in Cyprus logged in to online services using their username and password. The share of 74 per cent is just below the EU average of 75 per cent, Eurostat reported on Tuesday.

On the occasion of Safer Internet Day, marked annually on February 9, the EU statistical service looked at the most common identification procedures used for accessing online services.

The share of people in the EU aged 16-74 who logged in to online services using their username and password varied across the EU member states: in the Netherlands, 91 per cent of people aged 16-74 used this login method, whereas Romania recorded the lowest share with 45 per cent.

The second most popular identification procedure in EU countries was a ‘code received by message on a mobile phone’, OTP (One Time PIN) which was used by 46 per cent of people aged 16 -74. Here Cyprus scored much lower, 27 per cent.

‘Social media login’ was in third place in the EU, with 34 per cent, but more people (29 per cent) in Cyprus used this then the ‘code received by message on a mobile phone’.

Other less common identification procedures are an ‘electronic identification certificate or card used for example with a card reader or with an app’ as well as a ‘single-use PIN code list or random characters of a password’.