Third of Irish households have experienced cybercrime
Research highlighting escalating threats from cyberattacks and scams to Irish households found In total, more than one in three (36%) Irish households have experienced cybercrime over the last year.
The new research was conducted by 3Gem Research and Insights and builds on findings of organizational readiness that Kyndryl recently published in its inaugural Readiness Report.
Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents said they were most concerned about personal devices being hacked, such as smartphones and laptops. The second biggest concern was online scams (68%), followed by identity theft (58%). Nearly half (48%) feared sensitive information being leaked through data breaches, while 28% expressed anxiety over ransomware attacks.
Young adults, particularly those aged 25-34, appear to be the most vulnerable, with 29% having been directly targeted by cyber criminals. This figure drops to 19% for those aged 45-54, and just 11% for individuals aged 65 and above.
“While businesses are grappling with the complexities of maintaining future-ready IT infrastructure, as highlighted in our recent Kyndryl Readiness Report, the same principles apply to consumers: effective cybersecurity starts with people,” said Chris Davis, managing director, Kyndryl Ireland. “Cyber security readiness isn’t just about having the latest tools – it’s about fostering awareness and proactive behaviours among individuals. Increasing public awareness and education is crucial to help individuals protect themselves in an ever-evolving digital environment.”
Poor password practices still prevalent
Password reuse remains a major security risk, with 48% of respondents using the same password across multiple accounts.
Alarmingly, 41% of respondents said they rely on memory to store their passwords, making it less likely they use strong, complex alphanumeric combinations.
Only 24% of respondents use a password manager, considered one of the safest ways to store and generate strong passwords. Meanwhile, 17% write their passwords on paper, 12% rely on browser auto-fill, and 4% admit to using the same password for all accounts.
Risky online practices remain widespread, with 26% of respondents admitting to using public Wi-Fi for online banking or shopping – leaving them exposed to potential attacks. This behaviour is particularly prevalent among younger age groups, with 41% of 18-24 year olds and 35% of 25-34 year olds engaging in this high-risk activity.
Additionally, 18% of respondents opt out of using two-factor authentication (2FA), a figure that rises to 23% of 18-24 year olds and 24% of 35-44 year olds.
Consumers expect high standards of data protection from service providers. If a breach occurred, 74% of respondents said they would be likely to stop using a financial service, such as a bank or insurance provider, while 75% would do the same for social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram.
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