EXPERTS have compared storing passwords on internet browsers to leaving your keys on a windowsill, following a disturbing rise in specific Google searches.

Figures from a new study by AstrillVPN analysed search data from Google Keyword Planner, which showed almost 68,000 people search for 'Have I Been Pwned' every month. This is an online tool which tells you if your data has been breached.

Experts said many people simply store their passwords on their browsers, likening the safety to leaving keys on windowsills.

Arqam Zafar, Marketing Director at AstrillVPN, said: “The high volume of searches for data breach checks indicates people understand they are at risk online, but may not be aware of how to protect themselves.

“I like to think of online security like it’s a house. If you imagine your password is the key to your front door, you might treat it differently. For example, many people store passwords in browsers, but if you are infected with malware, or someone gains access to your computer, they will have access to everything you have saved. To go back to the previous analogy, it’s like leaving your house keys on the windowsill of an open window.

“It’s a common belief that swapping characters in passwords will be enough, but changing things such as the word ‘Password’ to ‘Pa$$w0rd’ is a practice more common than you may think. Passphrases are a much more secure option. If you are struggling to create one, take random words and create phrases from them, such as ‘Chocolate monster kitten’. This strategy is easy to remember, but tough to crack”.

The expert analysis also showed a rise in other similar searches, including ‘Phishing’ , which saw 21,875 monthly searches.

Phishing scams continue to cause widespread concern and grow more complex with each passing year. The generic term ‘phishing’ earned more than 21,000 searches per month, reflecting anxiety about online scams, phone scams, and cyber threats.

What is phishing’ saw 11,575 monthly searches. This search term suggests that people are not only worried about scams, they’re actively trying to understand how phishing works to avoid them.

Other searches included ‘Incognito Mode’, ‘Tor Browser’, ‘Phishing email’, ‘Change Apple ID password’, ‘Change Gmail password’, ‘How to change Apple ID password’, and “Private browsing”.

The National Cyber Security Centre has some helpful tips for how to stay safe online via its website, or you can visit your local community hub and Citizens Advice.