Kaspersky Lab: When it comes to online security, consumers over 45 are more cautious than younger Internet users when it comes to sharing information, but they lack sufficient knowledge to spot a potential scam or impending threat. 
According to recent Kaspersky Lab consumer habits research, people aged 24 and under are more willing to disclose personal information online and take fewer steps to protect themselves. However, they also have a better understanding of potential threats and are more likely to recognize them.
The survey found that for younger consumers, sharing data online is a daily occurrence, with 83% receiving personal messages online. The corresponding figure for people over 45 is only 53%. Also, 23% of young people admit to having shared inappropriate content online at least once, while the corresponding figure for older users is 7%.
The younger generation is more impatient when it comes to installing software and downloading files. 26% said they skip the details of terms and conditions when installing software. This could mean they don’t know what kind of data they have allowed access to, what additional programs they may have installed or how they might have changed their operating system settings. On the other hand, only 12% of users over 45 ignore the fine print. Younger users are also less careful when downloading files, with around one in three (31%) downloading files from multiple sources, compared to 10% of older users.
One in four (24%) people aged 24 and under would disable their security solution if it prevented the installation of software, compared to just 13% of older respondents.
However, according to Kaspersky Lab research, when faced with a potential threat, younger people are more adept at spotting malware. When asked to “download” a song from four samples, one in three young people (30%) chose the most dangerous “.exe” file, compared to almost half (42%) of people over 45. The safe “.wma” option was chosen by just one in five older users, but 29% of younger people.
Given their less restrained online behaviors, it’s no surprise that younger consumers are more likely to fall victim to malware. In 2015, 57% of people under 24 were infected with malware, compared to 34% of older users. Due to their lack of knowledge and experience about online risks, older malware victims were more likely to say they didn’t realize they had been infected (17% compared to just 10% of those under 24).
“While it is clear that more mature Internet users are likely to take fewer risks with their personal information, when faced with a digital threat they are less knowledgeable about how to recognize and deal with it. In any case, it is important for users of all ages to be cautious and aware of potential online threats, regardless of the frequency and reasons for using the Internet. They should also have a security solution installed that will provide them with full protection when downloading and installing files, as well as during their online communication,” commented David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab.
To help consumers protect themselves online and avoid problems caused by the inability to detect potential threats, Kaspersky Internet Security –multi-device and Kaspersky Total Security –multi-device solutions protect consumers from the latest malware and online threats, leveraging Kaspersky Lab’s globally recognized intelligence capabilities.
With a specially designed test , users can check their level of digital security knowledge. More tips on digital security for users are available on the Kaspersky Lab website
*Data comes from the "Consumer Security Risks 2015" survey and a special online test.
