Australian research suggests that 50 percent of emailers do not adopt proper password security and are at risk of identity theft.

The study, conducted by Griffith University's Business School, surveyed 900 students.  It found that students generally had two or three email accounts--half of which used the same password or a similar variation across all email accounts, which creates password management problems.

These problems include users forgetting passwords, writing them down or sharing them with others.  Despite warnings of password-cracking software, the study also found people are still choosing passwords based on personal details such as date of birth, or the names of a child or partner.

According to the study, businesses are exposed to higher levels of risk of security breaches by employees not adopting secure passwords.

To prevent your identity from becoming part of the Australian identity business, which is estimated to be about AUS$6 billion a year, keep these password tips in mind:

1. Don't use only letters or only numbers.

2. Don't use the names of spouses, children or pets.

3. Don't use phone numbers, Tax File numbers or birthdates.

4. Don't use the same word as your log-in, or any variation of it.

5. Don't use anything that can be found in the dictionary--even foreign words.

6. Don't write your password down.

Remember, the best passwords are at least eight characters long and use a combination of number, keyboard characters and upper and lower-case letters.  The longer your password is, the longer it will take to crack.