- Only 27% of Gen Z respondents use mobile antivirus software and are less likely to change their passwords regularly.
- 57% of Generation Z spend more time online than offline, according to Kaspersky
- And only 28% make regular backups of important personal data stored on their phones.
Generation Z has no knowledge of cybersecurity, online safety principles, or the risks of not changing their password. Just over half (52%) of respondents admitted to having experienced attacks against devices, data or online accounts, but only 27% employ standard countermeasures such as mobile antivirus tools.
In a study of 7,200 respondents from 18 countries, the company also found that only 28% regularly back up important personal data stored on their phones.
An average member of Generation Z seems to rely almost entirely on their smartphone, which is where they store the information they value most, seemingly without cloud backup or syncing. The survey has shown that social media accounts have been hacked (17%) and gaming accounts have been lost (12%), but smartphones pose greater risks to personal privacy if the right precautions are not taken.
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Generation Z needs to appreciate the risks
Access to personal photographs, ID documents, email, financial details and of course social media profiles can be obtained through a compromised smartphone, exposing the victim to a series of targeted attacks. Direct financial attacks, identity theft, and more can be carried out, depending on the success of the attacker. Keeping the device out of the reach of attackers, rather than inadvertently sharing its contents, is the safest course of action.
Irina Ermilova, vice president of Consumer Product Management at Kaspersky, sought to address the apparent disconnect between a generation that has grown up with Internet access and portable digital technology, and their lack of cybersecurity knowledge.
“Generation Z has grown up online, so digital services often feel intuitive and familiar to them. However, familiarity should not be confused with security expertise,” he said. “Being able to navigate apps, platforms, and devices with confidence doesn’t necessarily mean being able to identify scams, securely manage passwords, or protect personal data.”
“The findings show that cybersecurity tools and habits must become as natural a part of everyday digital life as messaging, gaming or using social media.”
Training Generation Z to find digital threats
Seeking a solution to this lack of awareness about cyber risks, Kaspersky launched an interactive online game aimed at Gen Z users. Case 404 is a “cyber detective adventure” in the point-and-click mold, set in the future with fictional cases inspired by real digital threats.
By playing, Kaspersky hopes Gen Z users will spot scams and phishing attempts, and take that knowledge into the real world and stay safe online.
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