Canadians' online behaviour can put them at moderate to high risk of cyber attacks: RBC Cyber Safety Index

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Canadians' online behaviour can put them at moderate to high risk of cyber attacks: RBC Cyber Safety Index /* Style Definitions */ span.prnews_span { font-size:8pt; font-family:"Arial"; color:black; } a.prnews_a { color:blue; } li.prnews_li { font-size:8pt; font-family:"Arial"; color:black; } p.prnews_p { font-size:0.62em; font-family:"Arial"; color:black; margin:0in; } .prntac{ TEXT-ALIGN: CENTER } Canada NewsWire 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...

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