Only 17% of Brits Can Spot Basic Signs of Cyber Threats
Barclays’ newly-launched Digital Safety Index has found that only 17% of people in the UK can correctly identify basic digital threats. These threats include social media messages intended to trick users into sharing personal details or downloading malware.
The Digital Safety Index maps how generations and regions compare in terms of their ability to identify cyber-threats and protect themselves from cybercrime. The age group less skilled in recognising these signs may be surprising.
25-34 Year Olds LESS Aware Than Over 65’s
According to the data, young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 are twice as likely to be duped by cyber criminals than older generations.
Somewhat surprisingly, over-65s scored 27% higher in the Barclays’ digital safety test, which you can take here, than 18-24-year-olds.
Victims Are Not Taking Practical Action
Nearly a fifth of people who have been a victim of a fraud or scam take no action to boost their digital defences as a result.
The new Barclays research also reveals a quarter of people in the UK have experienced online fraud or scams in the past three years – 18% of these have experience them more than once, suggesting that many cyber crimes go unreported.
Basic Steps To Protect Yourself
Barclays estimates that if people implemented just three basic measures, fraud levels could be reduced by up to 75%. These measures are:
1. Never give out your full online banking PIN, passcode or password to anyone, even a caller claiming to be from the police or your bank.
2. Do not click on any link or open an attachment on any e-mail you receive which is unsolicited.
3. Avoid letting someone you do not know have access to your computer, especially remotely.
Any individual or company that suspects it has been the victim of fraud can call Action Fraud on: 0300 123 2040 or contact them online.
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