More than half of Arab online users are concerned about their online safety yet 41% do not use security solutions

Kaspersky conducted a recent survey in collaboration with popular Arabic technology news portal – AITnews. The survey aims to understand how knowledgeable online users are about threats and the best ways to respond to them.

The survey revealed that 56 per cent of Arab respondents from across the world believe that their personal data is not secure, while more than a third (41 per cent) do not use a security solution to protect themselves online even though experts urge all internet users to have a security solution installed regardless of whether they believe their data is safe online or not. 

When asked about what kind of security solutions they use, 71% of the respondents said that they use free solutions. Although authentic free security solutions are capable of tackling a range of threats, paid security solutions have more comprehensive capabilities to effectively respond to emerging and complex attacks.

Emad Haffar, Head of Technical Experts for META at Kaspersky, said, “The main take away from this survey is that most people are aware that their data is not secure online and are practicing various steps to protect themselves. However, the results also demonstrate that there is a room for improving people safety while online, and this is where the importance of cyber awareness arises – a topic that is widely advocated by us. We at Kaspersky are committed to protecting the customer’s online experience, proactively and in the instance of a breach or an attack.”

On a positive note, respondents are taking steps to protect themselves from internet threats. The majority (71 per cent) use complex passwords while 44 per cent use anti-virus softwares and 43 per cent use two-factor authentication. Although users are taking the necessary steps to protect themselves on the internet, there is no foolproof way of ensuring that you are safe from all online threats. If you have been hacked, it is crucial to take the required steps to ensure the least amount of damage. Most (48 percent) of the respondents surveyed said that closing their affected account and all associated profiles is what they do in case of a breach while 45 per cent said that they would attempt to delete or close the sources of the attack. 

While it is promising to see that a large number of respondents are aware of what to do, Kaspersky experts believe that there is room to improve data security. Below are a couple of tips to help you stay safe online:

1. Be cyber vigilant

Do not click on suspicious links, open attachments from suspicious email, do not reply to spam and befriend strangers on social media, etc.

1. Keep your operating system and apps up to date

Keeping your operating system up to date is not just a matter of ensuring that you have the latest interface changes, it is also about fixing critical vulnerabilities in your system. These updates are essential for a successful fight against known vulnerabilities and malware.

1. Backup Your Data

Creating a backup is a critical step in ensuring your data is protected in the event of system failure or file corruption due to an online attack. 

1. Use Security Solutions 

Using security solutions is critical in today’s world. Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new ways to hack into your devices, having a robust security solution can help you enjoy the internet safely and without worrying about cybercrime.