SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Malwarebytes, a global leader in real-time cyber protection, today released a new report Everyone’s Afraid of the Internet (and No One’s Sure What to do About it) that underscores how the online behaviors of consumers is often at odds with ensuring safety and privacy. Seventy percent of respondents have experienced some kind of cybersecurity threat such as online scams and viruses or malware, and roughly one tenth have experienced serious personal violations like stalkerware/spyware and ransomware. The research indicates a critical need for education across generations on how to protect themselves in an ever-evolving online world.
“Privacy and security are inextricably linked yet the general public has resigned itself to risk because of the overwhelming nature of threats,” said Marcin Kleczynski, Co-founder and CEO, Malwarebytes. “Education is the foundation. In cybersecurity, we have a special opportunity to break down the intricacies of cybersecurity and make protection approachable and accessible, thereby empowering individuals to take ownership and control of their online identities. Our mission at Malwarebytes is to provide trusted protection in an online world where nothing is for certain.”
The report demonstrates that as technology has advanced, so have people’s fear and anxiety of what risks they may experience as a result of their digital footprint. With new apps and technologies always emerging, individuals of all ages are unclear how to stay safe online — or if doing so is even possible.
“Just because the internet cannot be trusted doesn’t mean that we should give up. And yet, that’s exactly where we find ourselves today, with only 35% of people using antivirus tools, 24% using multi-factor authentication and 15% using a password manager,” said Oren Arar, VP of Consumer Privacy, Malwarebytes. “With meaningful education, we hope to change the public’s relationship with the internet, away from anxiety and together towards security.”
Key Findings:
Dig into the full findings: https://try.malwarebytes.com/everyone-is-afraid-of-the-internet-report-2023/.
Survey Methodology
To better understand people’s attitudes and behaviors toward online safety and security, Malwarebytes commissioned an independent research study among 1,000 internet users ages 13-77 in North America. The survey asked users to dig deep into what they worry about when it comes to online security, what activities they typically engage in and what measures they take to stay safe online.
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About Malwarebytes
Malwarebytes believes that when people and organizations are free from threats, they are free to thrive. Founded in 2008, Malwarebytes CEO Marcin Kleczynski had one mission: to rid the world of malware. Today, Malwarebytes’ award-winning endpoint protection, privacy and threat prevention solutions along with a world-class team of threat researchers protect millions of individuals and thousands of businesses across the globe daily. Malwarebytes solutions are consistently recognized by independent tests including MITRE Engenuity, MRG Effitas, AVLAB and AV-TEST (consumer and business). Customers award Malwarebytes for being the most implementable and most usable endpoint protection product with the best results on G2 and Gartner Peer Insights. The company is headquartered in Californiawith offices in Europe and Asia. For more information and career opportunities, visit https://www.malwarebytes.com.