How can sharing an account be a security risk?

3rd April 2025

Sharing is caring: or is it? Having a shared account might seem like a good idea, but it increases the threat of a security breach.

A colleague and you have decided to share an account for something. Maybe it is to save on costs, maybe it is to streamline processes, maybe it is to try and communicate better: regardless of why you have done it, you have unknowing put yourself and the company you work for at increased risk from cyber threats.

Potential risks that can arise due to an account being shared between two or more people include:

Increased vulnerability to hackers: in short, the more people who know the password to an account, the higher the chance of someone accidentally giving it away.

Potential for account loss: a disgruntled employee who has left a job or a cyber-criminal who obtained the original password through phishing could lock everyone else out of the account, meaning all the details within it are lost.

Lack of accountability: depending on the application, it can be hard to track who is using the app and what they are individually doing. The source of a security breach could be coming from that account, but you would have no idea who was to blame.

Compliance issues: many regulatory frameworks require strict access controls and audit trails – sharing an account can make this more difficult to comply with, leading to legal and financial penalties.

In conclusion, we recommend that you keep separate accounts for everything to ensure the best level of security and compliance. Even though sharing passwords and personal details with colleagues may sound harmless enough, in the wrong circumstances it can lead to increased risk.

For more cyber security top tips, contact Interfuture Security HERE.