WASHINGTON – September 26, 2024 – The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization strengthening a more secure and interconnected world, and CybSafe, the leading behavioral risk platform, today announced We have announced the release of Oh Behave! The 2024 Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report was supported by SAP and conducted in partnership with New Zealand’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and Australia’s Cyber Collaboration Centre. The survey surveyed more than 6,500 individuals across the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, India, and New Zealand to explore key cybersecurity behaviors, attitudes, and trends ahead of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The survey reveals growing concern about the intersection of AI and cybersecurity, with 65% of respondents expressing concern about AI-related cybercrime. This concern extends across generations, with Silent Generation (73%) and Baby Boomers (70%) showing the highest levels of anxiety, while Gen Xers (61%) remain slightly less concerned. is. Furthermore, the lack of proper training on the security and privacy risks of AI is alarming, with 55% of AI tool users reporting no training. These findings highlight a significant gap between growing concerns about AI threats and actual user preparedness, and demonstrate the urgent need for education and security measures as AI continues to evolve. is shown.
“The growing concern about AI-related cybercrime reflects a growing awareness of the digital threats we face,” said Lisa Plaggemier, executive director of the National Cybersecurity Alliance. . “However, more than half (56%) of participants do not even use AI tools, and most (55%) of participants who do use AI have not been trained on the risks, making it even more likely. It’s clear that more education and resources are needed. We need clarity to help individuals understand and manage the risks associated with AI to ensure they can protect themselves and their families in an increasingly digital world. We must continue to provide practical guidance.”
Oz Alashe MBE, CEO and Founder of CybSafe, said: “Although the security community is well aware of AI-related threats, this awareness has not yet translated into consistent security practices across the workforce. AI presents unique and pressing challenges, but Many employees understand what it takes to protect their workplaces from cyber threats, but the key to strengthening an organization’s resilience is to share that knowledge regularly and securely. It’s about turning it into action. People want to be part of the solution, but ultimately it’s up to the organization to give them the tools and support they need to succeed.”
Summary of key report insights:
The need for clearer guidance on cybersecurity amid turmoil
Independence over online security is growing slowly but steadily, with 54% of participants finding it easy to stay safe online, up 4% from last year. However, 40% still find online security information confusing and 37% feel overwhelmed by security advice, an increase of 5% year over year. Despite these challenges, 44% continue to use the internet despite security concerns. Millennials report that online security is the easiest at 62%, while only 32% of the Silent Generation feel the same way. This data highlights the need for clearer and more practical cybersecurity guidance to help users navigate the complexities of online safety.
Increase in cybercrime highlights the need for stronger protection
Cybercrime damage is rapidly increasing, with 3,346 incidents reported, an increase of 1,299 incidents from last year. 35% of participants reported being a victim of cybercrime, an 8% increase from 2023. Phishing scams were the most common, accounting for 44% of incidents, a slight decrease of 3% year over year. Cyberbullying has also increased, affecting 18% of participants, a 3% increase from 2023. Younger generations are more affected, with 52% of Gen Z and 46% of Millennials reporting being victimized by online fraud. In contrast, baby boomers and the silent generation had lower victimization rates. These trends highlight the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures and increased awareness to combat the growing threat of online fraud and bullying.
High reporting rates of cybercrime highlight growing awareness
Cybercrime reporting rates are on the rise, with 91% of victims reporting incidents, an increase of 3% from last year. Phishing scams were most commonly reported at 89%, followed by online dating scams and identity theft at 92%. The United States has the highest reported rate of identity theft at 96%. Although the overall number of reports is high, 12% of cyberbullying victims did not report the incident. Phishing scams are typically reported to the bank (61%), online dating scams to the workplace (41%), and identity theft scams to the bank (59%). These numbers not only reflect increased awareness and response, but also highlight the need for continuous improvement of reporting mechanisms and support.
Reduced access to cyber training reveals shortcomings and opportunities
Access to cybersecurity training is decreasing, with 56% of participants unable to access it, an 8% decrease from last year. Despite this, 33% are currently receiving and utilizing training (up 7%). Most training is received through one-time courses, with Gen Z (44%) and Millennials (47%) reporting the highest access rates. Training is primarily used in the workplace (66%) and 83% find it useful. Attendance at required training is high at 86%, with 45% of Americans taking it each year. Overall, training improved key security behaviors, including phishing awareness (52%) and MFA adoption (45%).
Gaps in password management and MFA adoption remain
Despite increased awareness, significant hurdles remain in password management and multi-factor authentication (MFA) practices. Only 65% of participants consistently use unique passwords, and 60% say difficulty remembering passwords is a key barrier. Password managers are underused, with 40% of users preferring browser-based solutions, while 46% have never used a password manager. Although 81% are aware of MFA, only 66% use it regularly, and adoption varies widely by region. Notably, 45% of people who use MFA do not have it enabled for their work-related social media accounts. This data highlights the need for more effective strategies to improve password practices and increase MFA usage across all sectors.
To download the full video of “Oh Behave!” Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2024, visit https://staysafeonline.org/resources/oh-behave-the-annual-cybersecurity-attitudes-and See -behaviors-report-2024/.
For more information about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, visit https://staysafeonline.org/programs/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.
About Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to engage and educate public and private partners through events and initiatives to raise awareness about cybersecurity to increase the nation’s resilience in the event of a cyber incident. Masu. Since the President declared Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004, the effort has been formally recognized by Congress, federal, state and local governments, and industry and academic leaders. This united effort is needed to keep cyberspace more secure, resilient, and a source of great opportunity and growth for years to come. For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org/programs/cybersecurity-awareness-month/.
About the National Cybersecurity Alliance
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is a nonprofit organization with a mission to create a more secure and interconnected world. We advocate the safe use of all technology and educate everyone on how to best protect themselves, their families, and their organizations from cybercrime. We build strong partnerships between governments and businesses to amplify our message and promote better ‘digital’ goods. Our key initiatives include Cybersecurity Awareness Month (October); Data Privacy Week (January); CyberSecure My Business™ offers webinars, web resources, and workshops to help businesses combat cyber-attacks and strengthen their resilience. For more information, please visit https://staysafeonline.org.
About CybSafe
CybSafe is a human risk management platform designed to reduce human cyber risk in modern remote, hybrid work environments by measuring and influencing specific security behaviors.
CybSafe is powered by SebDB, the world’s security behavioral database, and is built by the industry’s largest in-house team of psychologists, behavioral scientists, analysts, and security experts. Our award-winning, fully scalable and customizable solution is the smart choice for any organization.
• Reduced risky phishing attempts by 91%
• 55% improvement in security behavior
• 4x more likely to participate in cybersecurity efforts
