91% of Americans Worried About Online Security Threats; Nearly Half Say They’re at Greater Risk Now Than Before the Pandemic, and Almost Two-Thirds Believe That Cybercriminals Could Target Their Household in the Next Year

BURLINGTON, Mass. — 七月 20, 2021 —

According to a new Sophos Home survey, “The State of Consumer Home Cybersecurity 2021,” consumers are increasingly concerned about their online security and imminent attacks. Forty-five percent of consumers say they’re more at risk of being hit by an attack now than they were before the pandemic, and 61% believe their household could be the target of an attack in the next year. Despite these concerns, the research findings show that security practices are falling short for many.

“Consumers are largely in the dark about cybersecurity,” said Chester Wisniewski, Sophos principal research scientist. “The findings show that many consumers are woefully uninformed about threats like ransomware, the likelihood and risk of these threats within their homes, and how to protect their families. The data also indicates that a number of consumers think they know more about cybersecurity than they actually do. All of this results in a false sense of security, and while it’s no excuse, it’s no doubt a reason why many consumers are failing to meet the security basics.”

The survey polled 2,500 consumers across all regions of the U.S. Key findings include:

  • 91% of consumers are worried about online security threats affecting their household – specifically viruses and malware (60%), identity theft (55%), financial fraud (48%), and ransomware (45%); for parents, the top concern is inappropriate content (39%)
  • 45% believe they’re more at risk of being hit by an attack now than they were 12 months ago, before the pandemic
  • 18% report that someone in their household suffered from a ransomware attack, nearly half of which occurred in the last year; 29% of which paid the ransom
  • 69% believe that working from home introduces new security risks
  • 61% believe that they or someone in their household could be the target of an online attack in the next 12 months

“Ransomware has become a household term and an understandable concern for everyday consumers – especially in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline and Kaseya attacks – but the fact of the matter is that ransomware attackers are looking to make a profit and they’re targeting businesses first and foremost,” said Wisniewski. “Consumers aren’t off limits, however. While the risks to consumers are lower than those for well-funded organizations, they’re still very real risks and consumers need to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their families. They simply can’t afford to overlook basic security practices like backing up data, protecting passwords, and updating and patching devices and applications.”

Online Security Bad Habits

The new research findings shine light on several areas where consumer security practices are lacking, including:

  • 20% never backup data to the cloud
  • 24% don’t have or use a password manager
  • 36% don’t update or patch their operating system and applications when prompted, or check to do so at least weekly
  • Just 35% of parents have set up separate user accounts on devices that their children use, and only 44% have user passwords set up at all on these devices
  • Only half (50%) of parents have added parental controls on devices that their children use, and only 42% have set up safe browsing or a web content filter

The Silver Lining

The good news is that most households (83%) have a designated “IT boss” who manages security on all devices within their homes; only 10% don’t, according to the research. Additionally, nearly half of consumers say they’re also responsible for managing devices outside of their homes. This number is highest in the Northeast, where a majority (54%) own this responsibility for extended family and friends.

About the Survey

The State of Consumer Home Cybersecurity 2021” report highlights findings of an independent survey conducted by Vanson Bourne among 2,500 consumers based in the U.S. The survey was conducted in February 2021.

关于 Sophos

Sophos 是先进网络安全解决方案的全球领导者和创新者,包括托管式侦测与响应 (MDR) 和事件响应服务,各种端点、网络、电子邮件和云安全技术,帮助企业防御网络攻击。作为最大的纯网络安全供应商之一,Sophos 帮助全球超过 500,000 家企业和超过 1 亿用户抵御主动攻击对手、勒索软件、网络钓鱼、恶意软件等。Sophos 的服务和产品通过 Sophos Central 云管理控制台连接,并得到内部跨领域威胁情报部门 Sophos X-Ops 的支持。Sophos X-Ops 情报优化整个 Sophos Adaptive Cybersecurity Ecosystem 自适应网络安全生态体系,包括一个中央数据湖,为客户、合作伙伴、开发人员和其他网络安全与信息技术供应商提供一组丰富的开放 API。Sophos 为需要全托管并即使可用的安全解决方案的企业提供网络安全即服务,客户还可以直接利用 Sophos 的安全运行平台管理其网络安全,或者采用混合方法,为内部团队补充 Sophos 服务(包括威胁追踪与修复)。Sophos 通过世界各地的经销商合作伙伴和托管服务供应商 (MSP) 销售。Sophos 总部位于英国牛津。如欲了解更多信息,请访问 www.sophos.com.