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Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

Uncovering consumers’ cybersecurity and privacy concerns

An examination of the impact of cybercrime, consumers’ online behaviors and their online security, privacy and identity concerns.

2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Special Release – Home & Family

As the pandemic continues, many admit to screen addiction and recognize the implications and importance of cyber safety

Read on to discover what resources are available to stay safe and protected online in the 2021 Norton™ Cyber Safety Insights Report: Special Release – Home & Family

2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Special Release – Online Creeping

In modern day romance, there are striking generational differences in cyber stalking tendencies

Learn how – and to what extremes – younger generations will cyber stalk their current and former partners in the 2021 Norton™ Cyber Safety Insights Report: Special Release – Online Creeping

2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

Despite a year of restrictions and lockdowns, cybercriminals are undeterred in their efforts to target consumers


Uncover how many consumers were impacted by cybercrime and identity theft in the last year, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted online behaviors in the 2021 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report, which surveyed over 10,000 adults in Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

Keep Up These Best Practices to Help Stay Safe

As consumers continue to seek ways to better protect themselves, it’s important to practice simple cyber safety measures:

 

Use strong passwords:
Don’t repeat your passwords on different sites. Make them complex and pick a random word that includes a combination of at least 10 letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to keep track of all of them for you.

Use two-factor authentication:
Traditional passwords no longer provide the best protection. When enabled, 2FA can give the identity-verification process a second layer of security.

Keep your software updated:
Cybercriminals frequently use known exploits, or flaws, in your software to gain access to your devices. Enable automatic software updates so your computer, phone and other devices stay on top of these for you and make it less likely that you’ll become a cybercrime target. 

Use a full-service internet security suite:
Invest in a security suite that offers real-time protection against existing and emerging malware including ransomware and viruses and helps protect your private and financial information when you go online.

Manage your social media settings:
Keep your personal and private information locked down. Social engineering cybercriminals can often get your personal information with just a few data points, so the less you share publicly, the better.

Beware of app permissions:
Upon download, some apps might default to accessing your data, contacts and location, putting your privacy at risk. You can take control of the information your mobile apps have access to by going to Settings to monitor and make proactive choices about what the apps have permission to do.

Strengthen your home network:
A VPN will help encrypt all traffic sent and received from your devices. If cybercriminals do manage to access your network, they will not be able to intercept the data being sent over your network.

Take measures to help protect yourself against identity theft:
Key ways to help prevent identity theft include using legitimate sites when shopping online, using a secure network, remaining on the lookout for devices attached to card readers or ATMs and keeping an eye on your credit card statements and credit reports. You should also take advantage of protection tools such as threshold notifications through your bank and credit cards, which will give you a variety of notification options for when your card is used, and EMV chip debit/credit cards as an extra layer of protection.

How We Define Cybercrime

The definition of cybercrime continues to evolve as avenues open up that allow cybercriminals to target consumers in new ways. Each year, we will evaluate current cybercrime trends and update the report’s methodology as needed, to ensure the Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report provides an accurate snapshot of the impact of cybercrime as it stands today. In the 2021 Norton LifeLock Cyber Safety Insights Report, a cybercrime is defined as having personally experienced a crime committed with devices over the Internet. This includes crimes where a computer is used to victimize an individual, such as by theft or fraud, and crimes that target other computers and connected devices to access the data on the device or that affect the device’s operation.
 

  • Detected malicious software (e.g., spyware, ransomware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, adware, etc.) on a computer, Wi-Fi network, smartphone, tablet, smart home, or other connected device  
  • Provided personal information, financial information or money in response to a fraudulent email, text message or website
  • Learned your personal information was exposed in a data breach   
  • Discovered your personal information was stolen online and used without your permission
  • Been threatened with the release of sensitive personal photos, video or information that was stolen online
  • Detected unauthorized access to your home or personal Wi-Fi network
  • Detected unauthorized access on a webcam
  • Detected unauthorized access on a social media account
  • Detected unauthorized access on an email account 
  • Detected unauthorized access on an online retail or shopping account
  • Detected unauthorized access on an online banking or other financial account
  • Detected unauthorized access on an online gaming account
  • Detected unauthorized access on another online account
  • Been stalked, bullied or harassed online

2019 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

Consumers are proactively trying to protect their privacy but many feel it’s too late or even impossible to protect it


Uncover how many consumers were impacted by identity theft and cybercrime in the last year and their perceptions around privacy protections in the 2019 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report, which surveyed over 10,000 adults in Australia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

2018 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

Privacy concerns leave consumers wanting more control, but convenience overrules risk
 

See how 2018’s heightened attention around breaches and privacy may have influenced consumers’ behavior and understanding of privacy, security and identity theft in the 2018 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report, which surveyed more than 16,000 consumers in 16 countries.

2017 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

Consumers’ Overconfidence Opens the Virtual Door for Cybercriminals
 

Uncover the discrepancies behind consumers’ perceived knowledge of cybercrime and their not-so-savvy online behaviors in the 2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report, which surveyed more than 21,000 consumers globally in 20 countries.

2016 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

We surveyed 20,907 adult device users in 21 countries to learn about their online behaviors, attitudes and security habits. See how they fared alongside the dangers and financial cost of cybercrime.

2015 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report

This report examines consumers' online behaviors, attitudes and security habits alongside the dangers and financial cost of cybercrime. A truly global take on online crime and the emotional toll it takes on consumers, the report surveyed 17,125 adult mobile device users across 17 countries.