Using public Wi-Fi, reusing passwords, and
providing personal information are the top three risks Canadians
take online
TORONTO, Oct. 1, 2024
/CNW/ - Despite awareness of cyber best practices, many Canadians
are still putting themselves at risk online, according to a new RBC
survey, which found that two-in-five Canadians (38%) qualify as
moderate to high-risk potential for becoming victims of
cyber-attacks.
RBC's new Cyber Safety Index reviewed how often Canadians engage
in certain behaviours online. While the majority practice at least
some good cyber hygiene, less than half say they always use all of
the recommended online safety behaviours, which include keeping
their software and operating systems updated (71%), using
two-factor authentication/verification on online banking accounts
(67%), enabling privacy and security settings on all devices (65%)
and limiting who follows them on social media (63%). Less than a
third (30%) always or often use virtual private networks (VPN) when
surfing public Wi-Fi; or password generators to create secure,
random passwords for online accounts (28%), leaving considerable
room to improve across the board.
"The responses to our Cyber Safety Index show that while many
Canadians are aware of things they can do to be safer online,
there's still opportunities for them to change behaviours and close
that risk gap," said Adam Evans,
chief information security officer at RBC. "At RBC, we're focused
on providing Canadians with the practical tips and education they
need to take control of their online safety and mitigate risks in
an ever-evolving digital world."
Canadians still taking cyber risks
On the flip side, many Canadians are also participating in risky
online activities that could further increase the potential of
exposure to cyber-attacks. Within the past year, over
three-quarters (77%) have knowingly or accidentally engaged in at
least one risky online behaviour, with the most commonly reported
being using public Wi-Fi (49%). Others include consenting to share
their personal information when asked (27%), clicking on pop-up ads
(19%), visiting unsecure websites (18%) and ignoring privacy
settings on social media platforms (13%).
Furthermore, over a third (35%) agree they have used the same
password(s) across multiple platforms, and nearly as many are more
concerned about missing out on exclusive events/activities than
disclosing personal information online (32%), and/or have
interacted with unsolicited texts or social media messages
(31%).
Top safety concerns
Despite these results, the vast majority of Canadians said they
are concerned about being victimized by online fraud
(80%), identity theft (84%), corporate data breaches (79%), being
hacked (84%), and/or experiencing unauthorized access to their
online accounts (87%), in line with last year. However,
significantly fewer feel safe engaging in social media activities
(69%; -7 pts) compared to 2023.
Fortunately, a growing proportion of Canadians (85%; +3 points)
say they are comfortable learning new ways to protect their online
information compared to last year, underscoring the importance of
ongoing education and support to help them navigate the digital
landscape safely and effectively.
RBC has articles and guides for Canadians on its Be Cyber Aware
website, including the following tips:
- Limit the information you share on social
platforms. Don't accept friend requests from people you
don't know, and even if the privacy settings on your accounts are
enabled, try to limit what you share online to avoid scams like
spear-phishing.
- Keep your financial information safe. Never log in
to online banking using a link sent through email, text message, or
social media. Instead, type the address into your browser. Clear
your browser's memory cache regularly to improve
security.
- Be vigilant when shopping online. Look for the
little padlock icon to the left of the URL bar and ensure the
website you're visiting has an address that begins with "https."
Read reviews before you buy to ensure they're legitimate and
trustworthy businesses.
- Create long, strong passwords. Always use the
maximum password length allowed and aim for at least 16 characters.
Longer is better, like "passphrases" made of randomly
chosen words, that can be easy to remember and hard for someone
else to guess.
To learn more, visit rbc.com/cyber.
About the RBC Study
These are the findings of an
Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of RBC. The survey was conducted in
English and French. A sample of 1,894 Canadians over 18 was
surveyed online via the Ipsos I-Say panel from May 3 to 7, 2024.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with
a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading
performance. Our success comes from the 100,000+ employees who
leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision,
values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and
communities prosper. As Canada's
biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market
capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus
on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more
than 18 million clients in Canada,
the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.
For more information, please
contact:
Kiara
Famularo, Communications, RBC, 437-217-7044
SOURCE RBC