Malwarebytes™, a worldwide pioneer in real-time cyber protection, has collaborated with non-profit partners Digitunity and Cybercrime Support Network to share the findings of “The Demographics of Cybercrime” study. According to the research, cybercrime does not affect everyone equally.
The research, which surveyed over 5,000 people in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, explains how people experience cybercrime throughout the world and shows how demographics affect the frequency of attacks on people, as well as their emotional reaction to becoming a target.
According to the data analysis, underprivileged groups facing societal stigma, such as those with lower incomes and lower education levels, feel less comfortable about their online experiences, and are more likely to be targeted. They are also more likely to be attacked and report greater emotional strain while reacting to cyberattacks.
According to the findings of the study, particular groups report a higher chance of experiencing threats online. Women, for example, are more likely than men to get text messages from unknown numbers that include potentially harmful links. Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) are more likely to have their social media accounts hacked and their identities stolen. Furthermore, those aged 65 and up have had their credit card information stolen at a higher rate than those of a younger age.
The research also investigates the differences between different audiences and how various forms of cyberattacks influenced their lives. Individual groups’ perceptions of their own personal safety and privacy online are strongly influenced by the probability of cybercrime happening and the responses to such crimes. According to the research, respondents who classified themselves as White are much more likely to feel secure on the Internet than BIPOC respondents, while women feel the least safe.
Marcin Kleczynski, CEO of Malwarebytes™, commented: “Understanding the impact that cybercrime has on vulnerable people (or populations), particularly women and minorities, across the world is critical as online access becomes essential to modern life. The disparity between populations feeling safe online and the emotional impact of threats on already vulnerable communities is unacceptable.”
