According to data from F-Secure, despite the fact that millions of Britons have fallen victim to online fraud, they still do not use any security to protect their digital activity.
The security company conducted a survey of 1,000 Britons to gain insight into the awareness and behavior of Britons regarding cybersecurity .
Around a fifth of Britons have been the victim of online fraud in the past (e.g. a phishing attack). These frauds have led to theft identity, data and password theft. They have also led to money being stolen.
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Worryingly, many Britons are still not taking any precautions, despite spending an average of eight hours a day online. One reason for this may be the perception that security is too much work. 60% of respondents said they found cybersecurity too complicated.
Interestingly, the report revealed a mismatch between respondents’ reported knowledge and their actual level of concern. While most said they could identify fraud (77%), nearly two-thirds expressed concern about safety for themselves and their loved ones. Furthermore, half admitted they lacked sufficient knowledge about whether their devices were secure or not.
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“Despite the fact that many Britons often feel unsafe online, they still don’t implement the right security measures. In the physical world you wouldn’t willingly give passwords and personal data to strangers, so why go online and do it and risk becoming a target for criminals?” argued F-Secure CEO Timo Laaksonen.
Phishing was the number one type of cybercrime (by number, based on reports) in 2021. Phishing is an attempt by cybercriminals to steal confidential information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and banking information, by sending fake emails or text messages. These malicious messages often appear to come from trusted sources, such as banks or even your own employer. They often contain links that lead to malicious websites designed to look like legitimate websites in order to collect personal information or install malware on your computer . According to the FBI, identity theft, romance scams, tech support scams, and investment scams also make the top 10
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The same report found that investment fraud and romance scams netted cybercriminals $2.4 billion in 2021.
The findings of the F-Secure show that businesses are also at great risk if employees demonstrate the same low levels of security awareness as they do at home.
Source: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
