After all, it's not just Mark Zuckerberg who covers his webcam. In order to protect their privacy, some users reach the point of absurdity and turn to various solutions to keep their personal data away from prying eyes in the online world. Multiple studies by Kaspersky Lab show that not enough users are aware of the risks, but even those who have relevant knowledge use incorrect methods to stay safe on the Internet. 
The survey shows that internet users are turning to a range of different methods to keep their privacy safe. In particular, 22% of Europeans admit to covering webcam in an attempt to protect their privacy. However, it is important to recognise that covering a webcam cannot prevent audio eavesdropping and protect users from being overheard by hackers or malicious groups.
Also, over a quarter of European internet users (27%) store their sensitive data on devices that do not have access to the internet, mistakenly believing that this guarantees the protection of their data. However, while this theory is based on logic, and is also necessary to ensure backups from the effects of a ransomware attack, a device can be “infected” via a connected smartphone or USB stick even without an internet connection.
19% of European respondents admitted that they try to avoid using popular websites, such as Google and Facebook, due to the personal information they collect, despite the fact that it is now common practice for almost all websites to track users and collect some user data.
Additionally, 8% admitted to hiding their computer from other people, even though it wouldn't help protect them from online threats. Also, 7% said they spend time entering and then deleting their credit card details during an online payment in an attempt to "confuse" viruses, despite the fact that malware, especially keyloggers, cannot be "confused" in this way.
While some use these extreme but inadequate methods, statistics show that other internet users show a significant lack of technological knowledge. Just 20% of Europeans said they felt they could be targeted online, while 21% said they did not believe a security solution was necessary, raising questions about online awareness and the ability of users to protect themselves from attacks.
David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab, commented: “These findings show two extremes. On the one hand, there are people who think they can keep their data safe by, for example, hiding their computers. On the other hand, there are still those who simply do not take the necessary precautions online. People need to become more tech-savvy. With today’s security solutions, users have the ability to protect themselves from digital threats without having to resort to extreme solutions.”
Users can protect themselves from online threats without having to resort to extreme – or inaccurate – methods. Kaspersky Internet Security, for example, can protect users without affecting their digital lives. Webcam Protection for Mac and Windows devices can maintain users’ privacy, while special anti-tracking features – such as Private Browsing – can help users avoid being tracked by websites by separating user data from their Internet traffic.
To test your level of knowledge about digital security, you can visit the website: https://blog.kaspersky.com/cyber-savvy-quiz/. More tips on how to protect yourself online are available at the website: https://blog.kaspersky.com/tag/cybersavvy.
The data comes from the Consumer Security Risks Survey 2015 and a special online test by Kaspersky Lab.
