According to her research Kaspersky Lab, even today, many users continue to share private information unwittingly over the Internet and get involved in dangerous situations.
27% of Europeans share confidential data by mistake while 13% reveals personal information voluntarily, despite the fact that information exchanged online can have important personal and professional consequences.
Research shows that many people are at high risk of antchange data through online communication channels[1].
This data includes: personal photos (for 43% of Europeans), contact information (40%), other person photos (34%), sensitive personal information (29%) and job-related information (18%). Further - and perhaps even more seriously - 16% of Europeans have shared a personal secret, while 8% has shared sensitive financial data.
All of this is happening despite the fact that there is particular concern about the damaging consequences - both economic and emotional - that can arise from the disclosure of this information.
For example, about one-third of European respondents are worried that this activity could harm his or her affairs or embarrass or even offend anyone, while one in six is afraid that it could hurt his career.
The level of concern is often justified. 28% has admitted to having accidentally shared confidential information, with one in ten respondents affected by it. These consequences include loss of friends, bullying, financial loss, the end of a relationship, even dismissal from work.
Commenting on the research findings, David Emm, Principal Security Her Researcher Kaspersky Lab points out: «Πολλοί χρήστες του Διαδικτύου δυσκολεύονται να «μεταφράσουν» την επίγνωση των κινδύνων σε πραγματική προσοχή, όταν πρόκειται για θέματα που αφορούν στην online δραστηριότητα. Με τόσες πολλές συσκευές και online κανάλια στα χέρια μας, είναι πιο εύκολο από ποτέ να δημοσιεύσουμε ένα προσωπικό μήνυμα ή να μοιραστούμε πληροφορίες με τους λάθος ανθρώπους ακούσια. Αν κάποιος δεν έχει επαρκείς γνώσεις ψηφιακής ασφάλειας ή δεν έχει εγκατεστημένες τις κατάλληλες λύσεις ασφάλειας και ιδιωτικότητας, θα μπορούσε να αντιμετωπίσει problems in his relationships and work. Once something is "up" on the Internet it is there forever. That's why if anyone doubts something, it's better to keep it to yourself."
Knowing the potential risks of the Internet and taking precautions and measures to secure online activities is vital. Those Internet users who want to control their level of knowledge about digital security can visit their website Kaspersky: https://blog.kaspersky.com/cyber-savvy-quiz/.
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[1] Results of a survey carried out in cooperation to B2B International, with the participation of more than 12.000 respondents worldwide