To protect their privacy, paranoid users are turning to a multitude of methods to keep their personal data away from prying eyes in the online world, including hiding their computers. Yet multiple research studies from Kaspersky Lab shows that not enough users are aware of the risks, and those that are, use the wrong methods to stay safe online.
The research shows Internet users turning to a number of different methods to keep their privacy safe. One-in-five (20%) admit that they cover up their webcam, in an attempt to protect their privacy. Useful in itself, it’s important to recognize that covering a webcam cannot prevent audio interception and protect users from being listened to by hackers or malicious groups.
Over a quarter of Internet users (28%) store their sensitive data on devices that have no Internet access, mistakenly thinking that this will guarantee the protection of their data. However, although this theory is grounded in logic, and is essential for securing backup data from the effects of a ransomware attack, even without an Internet connection it is possible for a device to be infected via a connected smartphone or USB stick.
18% of those surveyed admitted that they try to avoid using popular websites like Google and Facebook because of the personal information they gather, despite the fact that it is normal practice for almost all websites to track users and collect some user data today.
Moreover, 8% of paranoid respondents admitted to hiding their computers from other people, even though this will not help protect them from Internet threats. 7% also said they devote time to entering, then erasing credit card data when paying online, in an attempt to confuse viruses, despite the fact that malware, especially keyloggers, cannot be confused this way.
Whilst some use these extreme, but inadequate methods, the statistics show that other Internet users are severely lacking in cyber-savviness. Only 23% said they feel targeted online and 23% said that they do not think a security solution is necessary, raising questions about their online awareness and ability to protect themselves from harm.
“These findings demonstrate two extremes – one the one hand there are people who think they can keep their data safe by, for example, hiding their computers; but on the other hand there are still those who are simply not taking the necessary precautions online. People need to become more cyber-savvy – with today’s security solutions it’s possible to protect yourself from cyberthreats, without having to go to the extreme lengths of hiding a computer,” says David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Lab.
It is possible for users to protect themselves from online threats, without having to resort to extreme – or inaccurate – methods. Kaspersky Internet Security, for example, can safeguard users without affecting their digital lives. The Webcam Protection feature for Mac and Windows can maintain user privacy, whilst specialist anti-tracking features – such as the Private Browsing function – can help users who want to avoid being tracked by websites – by cutting off user data from Internet traffic.
You can check your own level of cyber-savviness here: https://blog.kaspersky.com/cyber-savvy-quiz/. To read more tips on how to protect yourself online, click here: https://blog.kaspersky.com/tag/cybersavvy.
Data is taken from Consumer Security Risks Survey 2015 and Are you cyber savvy? Quiz
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About Kaspersky Lab
Kaspersky Lab is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky Lab’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky Lab technologies and we help 270,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them.
*The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2011. The rating was published in the IDC report “Worldwide Endpoint Security 2012–2016 Forecast and 2011 Vendor Shares (IDC #235930, July 2012). The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2011.
