Brits Embrace Connected Devices, Mobile Banking and Online Shopping During Lockdown – but Over Half Didn’t Upgrade Online Security in 2020

18-34-year-olds are easy targets for cyber criminals, despite a rise in digital adoption across all generations

News Highlights: 

• Online activities such as banking (79%), social media (60%), and food deliveries (56%) will remain part of Brits’ routines post-lockdown
• Over half of Brits say they’re worried about cyber risks, yet a quarter still don’t feel confident in their ability to prevent a cyber-attack
• Over half of baby boomers check their device software is up to date, while just over a quarter (28%) of 18-34-year-olds do

McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) today announced findings from its 2021 Consumer Security Mindset Report, revealing that Brits plan to continue current digital habits for the foreseeable future. With digital adoption rising over the past year, brought on by the global pandemic, digital activities such as online banking (79%), social activities (60%), and online shopping (53%) will remain part of the nation’s routines, even when social distancing guidelines and stay at home restrictions lift.

Yet, as Brits continue to adapt to and embrace their new digital worlds, cyber criminals are taking note and looking for ways to exploit consumers, young and old. The more time Brits spend online, using a whole host of applications and services, the greater their exposure is to potential risks and threats. This is clearly a worry for consumers across the UK, as more than half (57%) of Brits admit to being concerned about cyber risks. Of these, 62% of Brits are most worried about having their credit or banking details stolen or compromised, while having personal information, such as date of birth and addresses, stolen or exposed was also a prime concern (59%).

“The first step in protecting ourselves is realising that there’s a lot we can do to stay safe online and to preserve our digital wellness. Yet, there’s a long way to go for British consumers.” said Terry Hicks, EVP of McAfee’s Consumer Business. “It’s important to remember that we can always work on our own safe online habits – from the apps we install, to the websites we click on, to the emails we open. Making this shift in our mindset and behaviours is a necessity in protecting what we value most – our privacy and identity – giving Brits much needed peace of mind as they continue their digital adoption.”

Connected devices connect Brits to cybercriminals 

Brits are more connected than ever before, and in the UK alone, there is now an average of eight connected devices in a single household. The study shows how consumer buying habits are advancing the country’s digital-first lifestyle, with nearly three-quarters (71%) of Brits saying they have purchased at least one connected device in 2020, while one in five bought at least three connected devices. However, worryingly, over half (56%) did not adopt or purchase security solutions in 2020, and two out of three (65%) have never considered the value of their data stored online.

Consumers are also becoming more comfortable with sharing information online and are in turn, opening themselves up to the exploits of cyber criminals. Notably, McAfee found that 71% of Brits started using digital features designed for convenience in 2020, such as enabling text and email notifications (39%), paperless transaction records (37%) and downloading web and mobile applications instead of using desktop sites (27%).

Digital boom has made baby boomers savvy

As part of the study, McAfee is seeing an interesting trend emerge among baby boomers, who have in fact used their time stuck indoors to adopt new technologies. Over half (52%) of 55-74-year-olds either introduced, or increased their use of digital tools to support their social lives, including the use of social media. A further 46% of baby boomers also started, or increased, their use of online banking, with 82% planning to continue this post-pandemic – the highest among any other age group when asked which online activities they’ll continue once lockdown restrictions lift.

Concerns around cyber risks remains rife amongst 55-74-year-olds, as McAfee’s research reveals they worry more than any other age groups when it comes to having banking details (70%) or personal information (66%) stolen, or having personal accounts hacked (61%). This awareness however makes 55-74-year-olds the most switched-on generation, as over half (52%) claim to always check if the software on their devices is up to date.

Unsurprisingly, younger digital native generations have been quick to embrace new digital solutions, with 65% of 18-34-year-olds having started to, or increased, online shopping activities. Of all the activities, online banking saw the biggest increase in use among this age group however, with over half (53%) increasing their use of this service during lockdown. Despite this, over a quarter (28%) have never checked if the software on their devices is up-to-date, making them the generation most susceptible to online cyber risks.

With our digital lives showing no sign of slowing down, some ways people can protect themselves and their loved ones include:

• Use multi-factor authentication to double check the authenticity of digital users and add an additional layer of security to protect personal data and information.
• Connect with caution. If you have to conduct transactions on a public Wi-Fi connection use a virtual private network (VPN) like McAfee® Safe Connect to help keep you safe while you’re online.
• Browse with added security using a tool like McAfee WebAdvisor to block malware and phishing sites if you click on a malicious link.
• Protect your identity and important personal information by using McAfee Identity Theft Protection, which also helps you recover your information if your identity is compromised.

McAfee’s 2021 Consumer Security Mindset Report Methodology:

McAfee commissioned MSI-ACI to conduct an online questionnaire to 1,000 adults over the age of 18 in the UK between December 11-23, 2020.

This press release only includes data from the UK survey. Additional surveys were conducted in Canada, U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Australia, Singapore, India and Indonesia. Data for these regions can be requested via media contact below.

About McAfee

McAfee Corp. (Nasdaq: MCFE) is a leader in personal security for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protects their families and communities with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit https://www.mcafee.com/consumer