Cybersecurity report finds cybercrime victims are often Millennials and Gen Zers

According to a recent cybersecurity report, 27% of Millennials and 34% of Gen Zers have lost their money or data due to harmful cyber activity, such as phishing, yet many of them fail to report the incidents or seek out cybersecurity training.

“This report puts a spotlight on the real need for cybersecurity education,” said Guy J. Albertini, Rutgers’ Associate Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer. “Cybersecurity Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to spread the word on the importance of cybersecurity to protect both your personal information and Rutgers data.”

The National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) released its Annual Cybersecurity Attitudes and Behaviors Report 2022 as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, finding that many in the 3,000-person survey conducted in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom do not understand the importance of cybersecurity.

The key findings of this report include:

• 45% of individuals claim that they are “always online.”
• 20% of Millennials and 18% of Gen Zers have had their identities stolen at least once.
• 26% of identity theft victims and 31% of phishing victims did not report their incidents directly to service providers or law enforcement.
• 62% of participants lacked any cybersecurity knowledge altogether.

“We’re making it a priority to educate our community about cybersecurity and keep them up to date on how to best protect themselves online,” said Albertini. “We’re spreading the word about Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and throughout the year we seek to provide guidance on everything from Zoombombing to phishing attacks.”

Gen Z and Millennial students are large targets for cybercriminal activity, as they access the internet throughout the day for their education, entertainment, and careers. “(Gen Z and Millennials) disclosed higher rates of victimization when it comes to phishing, identity theft, romance scams, and cyberbullying,” according to the report. The report found that 34% of survey participants fell victim to a cybercrime, in which their money, data, or identity was stolen.

Most survey participants (88%) are connected to the internet throughout the day, but only 25% of the total participants felt motivated to improve their cybersecurity habits. Yet most respondents (78%) do consider staying secure online a priority and two-thirds (66%) think it is achievable.

“Cybersecurity isn’t just about the experts,” noted Albertini. “The theme for this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month is ‘See Yourself in Cyber.’ That means all of us need to play our part in taking steps to keep our information secure and out of the hands of cybercriminals.”

Read the full report here and learn more about the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCSA) at its website, StaySafeOnline.org.