The most cybersecurity-aware country this year is Singapore.
People ages 30-54 have the best cybersecurity skills.
Only 6% of people globally know what privacy issues to consider when using AI for work.
The world’s online privacy and cybersecurity awareness continues to decline, according to new research by the cybersecurity company NordVPN. Based on 31 analyzed markets with the highest numbers of responses, people globally knew best how to create strong passwords (96%), and they were worst with questions related to privacy issues that go hand in hand with AI usage for work (52%).
The annual National Privacy Test (NPT) is a global survey aimed to evaluate people’s cybersecurity, online privacy awareness, and educate the general public about cyber threats and the importance of data and information security in the digital age. It gathered 25,567 responses from 181 countries this year.
“As the digital threat landscape evolves faster than ever, it is important that internet users understand the significance of safeguarding their personal information. The National Privacy Test takes the responsibility to educate people globally about cyber threats and equip them with essential tips to protect against fraud, data harvesting, surveillance, and other online dangers,” says Marijus Briedis, chief technology officer (CTO) at NordVPN.
These countries rank in the top three for internet privacy and cybersecurity awareness:
Singapore (62/100)
Finland and Lithuania (61/100)
Germany and the United States (60/100)
Compared to 2023, less people understand the security benefits of updating apps
The results of the test showed that people globally are also good at dealing with suspicious streaming service offers (95%), and they know which permissions to grant to different apps (91%).
On the other hand, people globally also did not know what data ISPs collect as part of the metadata (13%), or how to secure their home Wi-Fi network (16%), most likely considering it safe by default.
Among all respondents, 1% are Cyber Wanderers (barely know anything about internet privacy and cybersecurity), while the biggest proportion (66%) scored 50-74 points and were identified as Cyber Adventurers.
Compared to 2023, less people understand the security benefits of updating apps as soon as the update is available. While in 2023, 69% said they update an app as soon as an update is available, this year, it’s 56%.
Steps to increase online security and privacy
Marijus Briedis from NordVPN shares a series of steps people can take to enhance their online privacy and security:
Create unique and strong passwords. Use unique and robust passwords for each of your online accounts.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA). Strengthen your account security by enabling multi-factor authentication.
Keep your software up to date. Regularly update your software, operating systems, and applications.
Use a virtual private network (VPN). Always use a VPN to encrypt your internet connection, safeguarding your personal information from potential eavesdroppers.
Review privacy settings. Regularly review and adjust privacy settings on social media platforms, mobile apps, and other online services.
Methodology can be found here: https://nordvpn.com/blog/national-privacy-test-us-2024/
ABOUT NORDVPN
NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, chosen by millions of internet users worldwide. The service offers features such as dedicated IP, Double VPN, and Onion Over VPN servers, which help to boost your online privacy with zero tracking. One of NordVPN’s key features is Threat Protection Pro, a tool that blocks malicious websites, trackers, and ads and scans downloads for malware. The latest creation of Nord Security, NordVPN’s parent company, is Saily — a global eSIM service. NordVPN is known for being user friendly and can offer some of the best prices on the market. This VPN provider has over 6,400 servers covering 111 countries worldwide. For more information, visit https://nordvpn.com.