Following recent cyberattacks around the world, the cyber-threat landscape appears to be growing faster than individuals’ ability to keep up. This makes it critical for internet users to be security savvy in order to navigate the Internet of things (IoT) threat landscape, according to Comcast in its 2022 Xfinity Cyber Health Report.
Users’ general awareness of threats would help reduce the risk of cyberattacks, because detecting threats is one of the first steps that should be taken before defending against them. The earlier these threats are identified, the better prepared we are to defend against them.
Personal cybersecurity, which entails the use of passwords, is one such step of being security savvy. According to the study, nearly three-quarters of baby boomers take risks like reusing passwords and declining multifactor authentication, but 80% of Generation X, 82% of millennials, and 87% of Generation Z do as well.
While A little more than three-quarters of millennials polled said they are most likely to buy a smart device this holiday season, such as new smartphones, laptop computers, or gaming consoles. Only 56% of Generation Z respondents had heard of malware, and 38% had heard of phishing. In comparison, 72% of millennials have heard of malware and 65% have heard of phishing.
If this trend continues, it will be dangerous for users in the long run because cyberattacks may be knocking on people’s doors without their knowledge.
The sources for this piece include an article in TechRepublic.