Although millennials intend to tighten up their online security, their actions tell a different story. — Photo courtesy of Kaspersky
Over a third of millennials (37 per cent) think they are too boring to be the victim of cybercrime, a new study by global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky shows.
The study also revealed that 36 per cent millennials say that they should be doing more to strengthen their digital security, but it is at the bottom of their to-do list.
As the ‘new normal’ has forced many to work from home, home is becoming a technological hub for millennials. They are now spending nearly two (1.8) extra hours online everyday compared to the start of the year – bringing their daily average up to 7.1 hours a day.
Almost half (49 per cent) said this increased time online has made them more aware of their digital security. Millennials are spending most of their time on social media, but almost two thirds (61 per cent) said that the rise of online dating from home is a particular concern for their digital security.
To address these concerns, almost half (52 per cent) of millennials now said that they only run trustworthy apps on their devices from official stores such as Apple Store and Google Play, and 49 per cent run regular anti-virus scans on each of their devices to protect themselves.
However, a mischievous streak also appears in 13 per cent of millennials, who admitted to using their neighbours’ Wi-Fi in the past without them knowing.
Andrew Winton, Vice President, Marketing at Kaspersky, said: “2020 has been a defining year for the digital home. With many of us all over the world in lockdown, the amount we interact with, and rely on, technology has increased dramatically. Because of this, we wanted to conduct a study that would unveil just how much this year has impacted our actions and our feelings when it comes to our digital life; what are our ‘digital comfort zones’, and what do they mean to us now?
“It’s not a surprise that millennials, who will shape how society uses technology for years to come, are placing more emphasis on digital security – particularly as the line between work and home becomes increasingly blurred. Protecting ourselves from digital threats can be simple, and this helps us better understand how we can help optimize safety within individual digital comfort zones.”
To make sure their devices and personal information remain protected on the internet, Kaspersky advises millennials to pay attention to the website's authenticity, keep a list of their online accounts so they have a full understanding of which services and websites may be storing their personal information, block the installation of programmes from unknown sources in their smartphone’s settings and only install apps from official app stores, and start using “Privacy Checker” to make it harder for third parties to find highly personal information. — VNS