NordVPN has commissioned a cybersecurity fear survey to reveal which cybercrimes worry Canadians
the most. The results show that the theft of identity, bank credentials, and payment card
information is considered the most severe threat. Read on to discover all of the findings.
NordVPN commissioned a survey to find out what cybercrime people fear most. It was carried out
by Cint, a global research technology provider, in 2023. It consists of 12 questions about cyber
threats, including identity theft, financial fraud, IoT hacking, and cyberattacks on critical
infrastructure. The survey helps us to understand how cyber fears affect different age groups,
from the silent generation to Gen Z.
The research was conducted in eight countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Most Canadian internet users consider identity theft and financial{‘ ‘} cybercrimes the most dangerous. Other{‘ ‘} cybersecurity fears, however, depend
heavily on generational differences. Let’s take a look at the survey results to better
understand Canadians’ cybersecurity fears.
Canadians’ biggest cybersecurity fears relate to the theft of their bank credentials or payment
card information (68%). According to the NordVPN survey, more than a half of Canadians are
afraid of the theft of their identity or Social Insurance number (59%). While financial fraud
and identity theft are the main cybersecurity fears of Canadians, other cybercrimes are strongly
influenced by the age of internet users.
“Cybersecurity fears are heavily influenced by the different ways generations perceive and use
technology, personal experiences, and historical context, among other factors. So a generational
gap in the perception of dangers online is unavoidable,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.
Research reveals that the biggest differences are seen between the silent generation and
Generation Z. While Gen Z is more concerned about the theft of their photos and videos (32%),
this worries almost 14% of baby boomers and only a minority (3%) of the silent generation.
Similar tendencies occurred when respondents were asked about a hacker taking control of their
webcams and CCTV cameras: Only 13% of baby boomers and 7% of the silent generation expressed
concern. In comparison, over a third of Generation Z (38%) internet users didn’t feel confident
about the safety of their webcams and CCTVs.
The older generations’ cyber fears include a hacker infecting their devices with viruses or
other malware: 72% of the silent generation and 56% of baby boomers. On the other hand, just
over a third of Gen Z (42%) and a third of millennials (33%) mention these among the most
frightening cybercrimes.
The survey also reveals some significant generational differences regarding losing access to
files on a computer. While 52% of the silent generation and 41% of baby boomers expressed fear
about losing computer access and files due to cyberattacks, only 22% of Gen Z respondents share
the same attitude.
Interestingly, the study revealed that younger individuals are more concerned about the safety
of their health information. More than a quarter of Gen Z respondents (26%) mentioned health
data theft among the most dangerous cyber threats. In comparison, only 13% of baby boomers and
3% of the silent generation see it as a severe online danger.
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Keeping your data safe is not as difficult as it may seem. Implementing a thorough cybersecurity
routine for your digital life can help you safeguard your personal information, identity, and
the funds in your bank account. Tips to up your cybersecurity game include:
against new threats.
{‘ ‘}
across your online accounts.
.
recognize it.
NordVPN can help you stay safer online, block trackers, and avoid ads. It is one of the world’s
most advanced VPN service providers, used by millions of internet users worldwide. NordVPN
offers double VPN encryption to hide your activity behind two servers instead of one. It also
features a Dark Web Monitor that continuously scans the dark web and notifies you about exposed
account data so you can take immediate action. Another distinct feature that NordVPN has to
offer is Threat Protection, which detects malicious websites and malware during downloads.
NordVPN is user friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, and has over 5,000
servers in 60 countries worldwide.
This research was commissioned by NordVPN and carried out by Cint between July 7 and August 5,
2023. A total of 1,013 respondents 18 years old and older were surveyed. Researchers placed
quotas on respondents’ gender, age, and place of residence to achieve a nationally
representative sample among internet users.
The post NordVPN survey reveals: More than two-thirds of Canadians are afraid of financial cybercrimes first appeared on NordVPN.
