Kaspersky Lab and B2B International have performed research to highlight the digital threats that Internet users are aware of as well as those most afraid of. It turns out that online accounts are the biggest concern for users. 
For European internet users, account hacking and password eavesdropping malware access and confidential information are the biggest concerns, with roughly the same percentage expressing concern about them (64% and 65% respectively).
Financial threats came third in rank with 58% worried that they might lose money from an account, followed by email and phishing websites (even a threat to account login) found in fourth place.
On the other hand, spyware threats were also among those with which users seem more familiar, with 86% of respondents reporting that they are aware of issues such as hacking, phishing, and malware intercepting login information. This indicates that the most known and worrying Internet threat to users is the theft of their digital identity.
Threats that worry users the least are DDoS attacks and global espionage campaigns. This may be because these types of digital attacks mostly target companies and rarely threaten ordinary users. Unsurprisingly, DDoS attacks and spyware campaigns are the threats users are least familiar with, with 29% and 27% of respondents, respectively, not having heard of them.
An alarming result of the research is that 28% of users are unaware of the threat of ransomware. This is the time when new malware that encrypt files from computers and require ransom for a decryption key appear more and more often.
Kaspersky Lab experts, for example, recently reported a new amendment of the Trojan program Tesla Crypt, which required $ 500 from each victim.
The adware and the malicious applications that target webcam access topped the list of threats that users say they are aware of and are not concerned about. However, these programs are more dangerous than they appear. Cybercriminals can monitor users or extract confidential information via a webcam or use video clips to blackmail their victims, while "adware" programs can be used to embed even more dangerous programs.
So, research shows that users are still underestimating many digital threats. Interestingly, 51% of European users have seen a significant increase in the number of online threats, but only 20% believe it could be targeting digital attacks.
"People are worried about the security of their online accounts, although in fact few of them think they will be targeted by a digital assault. And there they are wrong! Attackers often rely on the element of surprise and attack where users do not expect it. For this reason, Kaspersky Lab recommends Internet users to broaden their knowledge of current threats, to be alert and to make sure that their security solutions are properly prepared and ready to cope with any potential threat"Said Peter Aleshkin, Head of Consumer Marketing for Emerging Markets at Kaspersky Lab.
The Kaspersky Internet Security - multi-device 2016 and Kaspersky Total Security - multi-device are universal security solutions that protect home computer users and mobile devices from known and unknown threats. The products incorporate technologies to protect the owners of the device from malware, including password-detection software for e-services, as well as financial threats, phishing threats, adware, etc. For Windows-based systems, the solution has a mechanism to protect against unauthorized access to webcam and microphone.
