The first half of 2022 saw a significant spike in the number of people that feel exposed to cyberthreats
Credit: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay
The first half of last year saw a big rise in the proportion of citizens that do not feel safe in the online world, a government study has found.
During June and July 2022, a survey of about 4,000 adults around the UK found that 45% actively disagreed with the statement “that they feel safe and secure online from harms like cyberattacks, fraud and scams”. This is seven percentage points higher than the 38% figure recorded when the same survey was conducted in the closing weeks of 2021.
This scale of increase was reflected across all age groups, with the proportion of 18-to-34-year-olds that feel vulnerable to cyberthreats rising from 29% to 37%. In the 35-to-54 bracket, the percentage increased from 33% to 40%, while the over-55s – by far the group that feels the least safe online – saw the proportion grow from 49% to 56% during the first half of 2022.
In between the two surveys, Russia invaded Ukraine, which led to numerous public warnings about the cyberthreat posed by hackers, as well as by the dissemination of targeted disinformation.
Related content
- Online Safety Bill faces further delay
- NCSC warns UK organisations to bolster defences against Russian cyberthreat
- NHS and HMRC among most-impersonated agencies by cyber-scammers
Compared with late 2021, the study of last summer also found a slight drop – from 41% to 39% – in the proportion of adults that believe “that digital technologies have a positive impact on peoples’ ability to exchange and debate ideas, and to access and identify trusted and factual information online”.
The research was conducted by the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, a unit within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
In a newly published report outlining the survey results, the CDEI said that the foremost implications for policymakers are that “consumers generally feel they have benefited from digital technologies, but there are important concerns” and that, thus, “there is more to be done” by legislators.
“Our regulatory approach needs to support public confidence and trust. If people know there are rules in place, they may be more likely to feel confident about digital technology deployment and use,” the report added. “Our regulatory approach is seeking to minimise harms to the economy, security and society. While many respondents reported benefits in each of these areas, the findings also show that there is more to be done to improve people’s perception of choice, safety and their ability to exchange ideas easily and freely.”
Hmm it looks like your website ate my first comment (it was extremely long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I’m still new to the whole thing. Do you have any suggestions for inexperienced blog writers? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
This is very fascinating, You’re an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and stay up for looking for extra of your great post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
Hey there I am so excited I found your web site, I really found you by error, while I was browsing on Yahoo for something else, Regardless I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don抰 have time to go through it all at the minute but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the awesome work.
I simply needed to appreciate you yet again. I do not know the things that I would’ve sorted out in the absence of the tactics shown by you relating to such subject matter. It truly was a difficult scenario for me, nevertheless seeing the specialized avenue you processed that made me to weep over happiness. Extremely thankful for your help and then believe you comprehend what an amazing job you’re providing educating the others through your site. I’m certain you haven’t encountered any of us.
Hi publictechnology.net webmaster, You always provide great information and insights.
An attention-grabbing dialogue is value comment. I feel that it’s best to write more on this subject, it won’t be a taboo subject but typically people are not enough to talk on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Terrific paintings! That is the type of info that are meant to be shared across the internet. Shame on Google for now not positioning this put up higher! Come on over and discuss with my web site . Thanks =)