Concern about online accounts
46 percent are also worried about fraud when banking online, 34 percent about fraud when shopping online. These are the results of a survey of 1,014 Internet users aged 16 and over on behalf of the digital association Bitkom. At the same time, almost two thirds (63 percent) say that they would not notice if strangers were spying on their computer or smartphone over the Internet.
“Consumers must be able to move safely in the digital world,” says Susanne Dehmel from Bitkom’s management on the occasion of World Consumer Day tomorrow. “In addition to appropriate measures from companies, such as user-friendly security settings and authorities that can act online, it is crucial that we enable people to protect themselves, and we should start doing this in daycare centers and schools.”
Digital self-defense: Survey shows great interest in cybersecurity training
Currently, only a minority of 41 percent believe that they are able to adequately protect devices such as computers and smartphones from attacks by cybercriminals. The proportion among 16 to 29 year olds is 46 percent, among 30 to 49 year olds it is even 47 percent, while it is 40 percent among 50 to 64 year olds and only 31 among older people aged 65 and over Percent.
Around one in two people (49 percent) would like to attend further training on cybersecurity in order to better protect themselves. Among younger people between 16 and 29 there is a clear majority of 60 percent, and among 30 to 49 year olds it is 58 percent. But interest is also high among older people, with 41 percent of those aged 50 to 64 and around a third (34 percent) of those aged 65 and over are interested in such further training.
Dehmel: “This great interest is an encouraging sign for World Consumer Day. It is now important that existing offers, such as those offered by the German Initiative, are used safely online and additional ones are created in order to enable secure digital participation for everyone.”
Tips on how to protect yourself against misuse of an online account:
- Use strong passwords: Use a strong, unique password for each account that consists of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid passwords that are easy to guess, such as dates of birth, names of family members, or pets.
- Update your passwords regularly: Update your passwords at least every six months to ensure they have not been compromised.
- Use two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication for all your online accounts if available. This significantly increases the security of your account because an attacker has to overcome another obstacle to gain access to your account.
- Use secure networks: Avoid logging into your accounts on public Wi-Fi networks or other insecure networks, as this can be a way for hackers to intercept your login credentials.
- Be careful when sharing your login information: Never share your login information with anyone, especially via email or unsafe websites.
- Check your accounts regularly: Check your accounts regularly for any unusual activity or unknown logins, and immediately report any suspicious activity to the account owner.
By following these steps, you can better protect your online accounts and minimize the risk of misuse or unauthorized access.
Note on methodology: The information is based on a survey that Bitkom Research conducted on behalf of the digital association Bitkom. 1,193 people aged 16 and over in Germany were surveyed representatively, including 1,014 internet users. The questions were: “What do you feel threatened by on the Internet?” and “Please tell me to what extent you agree with the following statements about cybercrime.”
Source:
Bitkom
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