Global internet privacy and cybersecurity awareness have dwindled and have been doing so every year, according to new leading research.
The results from NordVPN’s annual National Privacy Test (NPT) shared with VPNOverview on Wednesday revealed that countries like Poland and Singapore took the lead as the most aware, but even nations high on the knowledge rank have several areas of vulnerability.
The renowned cybersecurity company’s NPT study showed that Americans ranked second this year — tied with Germany — while the UK, Austria, and Portugal were in third place.
While the majority of Americans know how to create strong passwords, they know little about online tools that protect digital privacy, the study said. This is consistent with a 2022 survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania that revealed Americans’ privacy knowledge is lacking.
On the other hand, around 18% of the US population are “Cyber Stars” or very knowledgeable in the field, the study revealed. “Cyber Wanderers” were those who performed quite poorly.
Test Your Own Cybersecurity Knowledge
Want to see if you’re a Cyber Star or Wanderer? Do you know what a VPN is and why you need one? Do you know who or what cookies, trackers, and hackers are?
Take the National Privacy Test yourself to see how you score. It takes about six minutes to answer 23 questions. To compile their research, NordVPN gathered 26,174 responses on this test from 175 countries this year.
“With the growing complexity of online threats, it is not that surprising that the world’s online privacy and cybersecurity awareness has been on the decline,” NordVPN CTO Marijus Briedis said in a statement.
“Paradoxically, the more security solutions there are out there, the worse the results get every year. Raising awareness about the potential risks and educating users about best practices should be at the forefront of our efforts,” he added.
Diverging Trends in Cybersecurity Awareness, from EU to Asia and North America
From a satisfying 66% in 2021, the global average score of internet privacy awareness has gradually shrunk to 61% in 2023, the study showed.
Poland emerged as a beacon of digital privacy awareness, topping the list, closely followed by Singapore. Yet, even second-placed countries like the United States displayed significant gaps.
While Americans exhibited prowess in strong password creation and identifying suspicious streaming offers, they showed a limited understanding of crucial online privacy tools. Only 3% were conversant with such tools, and a mere 10% had insights into the data ISPs (internet service providers) collect, such as metadata, the study highlighted.
“Among the American people, 1% of them are Cyber Wanderers (barely know anything about internet privacy and cybersecurity), while 18% scored 75-100 points and were identified as knowledgeable Cyber Stars,” the press release said.
However, the study found a silver lining amidst these challenges. Between 2021 and 2023, Americans notably improved in the arena of understanding terms of service, with figures moving up from 25% to 36%. Then again, the persistent trend of sharing data without understanding application permissions remains a cause for concern, the study revealed.
While Americans have low awareness of online privacy tools, neighboring Canadians have high concerns about online privacy issues. According to a newer 2023 survey by Hill+Knowlton Strategies, Canadians have expressed worries about government surveillance, data breaches, and identity theft. They also showed interest in learning more about how to protect their online privacy and security.
Enhancing Online Security: NordVPN’s Insights
As we approach International VPN Day on August 19 — initiated by NordVPN in 2021 — NordVPN offers pivotal insights to fortify one’s online presence. Top on the list is the importance of creating and safely storing unique passwords and using multi-factor authentication. Regularly updating software and apps is also critical, to address potentially critical security flaws.
A virtual private network (VPN) stands as a protector in the cyberspace battleground. NordVPN accentuated the importance of employing a VPN consistently to encrypt internet interactions and shield personal data from potential threats. Adjusting and reviewing privacy settings across social media — like making privacy tweaks to Facebook — can also make a marked difference in one’s online security profile.
For those seeking a comprehensive guide to cybersecurity and best practices, VPNOverview.com provides a wide range of information tailored to the digital age. We recommend users find out how to use a VPN — a must-have cybersecurity tool in an increasingly risky digital world — by reviewing established brands like NordVPN and other leading VPN providers.
Pay Attention to Privacy
As for privacy, we highly recommend you educate yourself on the privacy risks in User Agreements and Privacy Policies to understand how your data will be processed and stored for each particular app or service.
It is important to note that some regions have more favorable privacy laws and regulations than others. For example, the European Union has the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which gives citizens more control over their personal data and imposes very strict penalties for violations.
In contrast, the United States has a patchwork of federal and state laws that offer varying degrees of protection, depending on the type and location of data.
NordVPN’s study was “a global survey aimed to evaluate people’s cybersecurity, online privacy awareness, and educate the general public about cyber threats and the importance of data and information security in the digital age. It gathered 26,174 responses from 175 countries this year.”
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