Over 18 million victims of cybercrime last year

The pandemic means we are all spending more time online. Does this give hackers and cyber criminals a better chance of striking?

Almost a third of Germans (30 percent) currently feel more vulnerable to cyber crime than before the pandemic - this was found by the 2021 Norton Cyber ​​Safety Insights Report. Almost three quarters of Germans (73 percent) assume that hackers and cyber criminals will find it easier to harm people due to the current widespread remote work. Two in five (44 percent) are more worried than ever about falling victim to a cyber crime, while 56 percent are very concerned that their identity could be stolen. Almost half of Germans also do not know how to protect themselves against cyber crime (49 percent).

Norton Cyber ​​Safety Insights Report

The sixth annual Norton Cyber ​​Safety Insights Report was conducted in collaboration with The Harris Poll. As part of the study, more than 10,000 adults in ten countries were surveyed, including around 1,001 adults in Germany. One key finding: Consumers across Europe are more concerned about privacy than they were before the pandemic (46 percent in Germany, 51 percent in France and 62 percent in the UK).

“Due to the current restrictions, many Germans (51 percent) are spending more time online than ever before. Cyber ​​criminals have exploited this with coordinated attacks and convincing scams, as well as the theft of personal information and hard-earned money. This is how cyber criminals have made millions,” says Steve Wilson, Director at NortonLifeLock. “The silver lining to the increased concern is that half of Germans (50 percent) want to take more precautions because they are worried about cybercrime.”

18 million people in Germany

During the last twelve months alone, almost 18 million people in Germany were victims of cyber crime. Victims of cyber crime from Germany also reported spending an average of 9.1 hours dealing with the consequences, which can include wiping devices or recovering stolen data and money. In total, Germans spent more than 166 million hours “cleaning up” after a cyber crime last year, resulting in an estimated 5.9 billion euros in financial losses.

In addition to the loss of time and money, there are also the emotional impacts of cybercrime to consider. 18 percent of Germans discovered unauthorized access to an account or device in the past twelve months. Those affected said they felt angry (51 percent), stressed (47 percent), vulnerable (37 percent), afraid (37 percent) and hurt (25 percent).

Identity theft

“The stress caused by cybercrime adds up over time. This is particularly true when it comes to identity theft, where fraudsters steal personal information to take over existing or new bank accounts or commit serious crimes under a false name. Victims of identity theft often suffer the consequences for years. For the 2 million Germans who have experienced identity theft in the last 12 months alone, this means a lifetime of monitoring for suspicious activity on their accounts or against their name,” explains Wilson.

When it comes to identity theft, Germans are overconfident in their ability to protect themselves. 56 percent are very worried that their identity could be stolen. Although 54 percent feel well protected against identity theft, 57 percent admitted that they would have no idea what to do if their identity was stolen. Importantly, nearly two-thirds of respondents (77 percent) wish they had more information about what to do.

In addition to concerns about cybercrime and identity, COVID-19 has brought online privacy to the forefront as many people have increasingly digitized their work, school and social lives. 84 percent of Germans have actively taken steps to hide their online footprint, with 29 percent doing so due to changes in their lifestyle or work environment since the start of the pandemic. Many are overwhelmed to take action: 50 percent say they find it impossible to protect their privacy online. 42 percent admit they don't know how to do it at all.

Precautions

Cybercrime is a constant threat. While no one can prevent all cases of cybercrime or identity theft, consumers can take precautions to protect their identity and privacy online:

• Inform about the online presence . Consumers should read the terms and conditions carefully before opening an account, downloading an app or creating a social media profile. Privacy and security settings should be configured as consumers see fit. To stay in control of their privacy, they should be aware of when, how and what information they share - whether it's location, financial information or cell phone number.
• First think – then click . Consumers should be suspicious of any unusual emails, texts or direct messages on social media. Additionally, they should be alert to any messages that specifically request action immediately, that offer something that sounds too good to be true, or that ask to provide personal information.
• Prevention is the best protection against identity theft. Consumers should keep a close eye on their bank accounts, credit card reports and all other financial accounts at all times and regularly review bills and statements. Additionally, they should make sure to check any unusual activity, such as unknown transactions, and check with their bank or utility company directly if they have received an unexpected bill. Consumers should also consider setting up a fraud alert on their credit score or monitoring against the publication of personal information online.
• Know what to do if you become a victim of cybercrime . If consumers believe they have been the victim of an internet crime, they should report it to local authorities and organizations. This is important even if the crime seems minor. A report can help the authorities with their investigations or help prevent criminals from taking advantage of other people in the future.
• Use security software from a trusted, reputable brand . Some of the ways consumers can protect their information online include using strong passwords, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and more. to consider device protection with multi-layered security software like Norton 360 It is important that the security software is always up to date and that the device's operating system is running the latest version. This helps fix potential vulnerabilities on devices and keeps cyber criminals at bay.

For more information about how consumers can protect their digital lives, visit the Norton Internet Security Center .

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Source: PP/NortonLifeLock

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