A recent survey conducted by Arlington Research on behalf of Kaspersky Laboratories has revealed some interesting contradictions in the behavior of British internet users. The study involved 10,000 people worldwide, including 1,000 respondents from Great Britain aged between 18 and 40 who are interested in new technologies.
The findings showed that nearly half of the British participants (49%) cover their laptop webcams when not in use, a precautionary measure. However, an almost equal number of respondents (44%) admitted to willingly participating in fun tests and mini-games on social media platforms and then sharing the results, potentially exposing their personal data to risks.
The survey also uncovered several common misconceptions among British internet users. For instance, 21% believe that a magnet can erase data from a smartphone, while 40% think that using incognito mode in a browser makes their activities invisible to others. Additionally, 24% mistakenly believe that using an encrypted messenger like WhatsApp automatically ensures all links are safe.
One particularly curious misconception found in the survey was that 22% of respondents are convinced that iOS devices are immune to hacking attempts.
Interestingly, 35% of participants admitted to having a superstitious belief in digital “chain letters,” sending them to friends and family out of fear of “breaking the chain.”
Furthermore, 41% of respondents expressed concerns about the amount of data collected by modern cars, particularly in light of recent reports by Mozilla detailing information collection practices by some car manufacturers.
Additionally, 25% of survey participants reported using special smartphone covers to protect their data from hackers, reflecting a growing concern among users about cybersecurity issues.
David Emm, a leading analyst at Kaspersky Laboratories, highlighted the importance of critical thinking and relying on verified sources of information for ensuring safety and protection. He emphasized the need to discard unverified methods and myths, as well as to be aware of digital distortions that can impact online life.
The study’s results demonstrate that even tech-savvy users can fall prey to myths and misinformation propagated through popular messaging apps and social networks.