- Most people forget their former accounts, but criminals never forget how to exploit them, report warnings
- Zombie accounts are digital weaknesses awaiting password reuse to ruin everything
- Platforms like Groupon and Pandora are filled with connections that nobody is looking at
The accounts forgotten for the applications that you no longer use may not seem to be your most urgent security problem, but new research has said that they can be much more than digital size.
A study by secure data recovery revealed that 94% of respondents admitted that they have one or more zombie accounts – the accounts left unused for at least 12 months.
These neglected profiles often remain active and vulnerable, giving cybercriminals a silent rear door in the digital life of users.
Pandora, Groupon and Shutterfly direct the list of forgotten services
Pandora is at the top of the list of abandoned services, 40% of respondents admitting that they always have unused accounts, with Groupon and Shutterfly afterwards, reflecting a wider trend of users moving away from the past popular platforms.
“This account you have not connected for more than a year? It is still there,” notes the study, warning that the abandoned profiles are ripe for diversion.
These unused accounts are not limited to music or shopping, because photo sharing platforms such as Dropbox, Tumblr and Flickr are also often forgotten – and the trend even extends to more sensitive categories, with dating applications such as Tinder, Okcupid and Bumbles the highest in abandonment. In financial space, acorns, mint and ynab have often remained inactive, despite potential access to personal or financial information.
Many users simply forget that these accounts exist, assuming that inactivity means deletion. In other cases, disinterest leads to abandonment.
Facebook is the highest of dissatisfaction, followed by Twitter / X and Amazon Prime Video. Some platforms have failed to follow expectations, while others, such as the premium video, have alienated users by adding announcements.
Interestingly, Prime Video also appears on the list of the most missed services, suggesting that users are divided into their opinions.
The consequences of ignorance of these accounts go far beyond the size.
The reuse of passwords on sites, in particular between zombie accounts and work or banking connections, creates a serious risk.
The recovery of secure data warns: “Have the same connection for this eight-year tumblr account and your active work email may not be in your best interest.”
How to stay safe
- To reduce the risks, consult the services for which you have registered – if you no longer use an application or a website, delete the account.
- Never reuse passwords. An old compromise account using the same connection as your current can endanger your data.
- Create solid and unique passwords for each account. A password manager can help you follow them.
- Also check the confidentiality settings on the accounts you always use. Some may share more than you think. Adjust these settings to limit the amount of visible information.
- As far as possible, activate two factors authentication for additional protection.
- Finally, use antivirus tools, especially on Android phones.
- A good free antivirus can warn you of dangerous applications and detect if your device has been compromised.
