According to a SurveyMonkey report from last week, people are less concerned about cyberattacks right now than they were a few years ago, despite the fact that high-profile cybersecurity breaches are happening more often.
Why are people so passive about cyber threats?
SurveyMonkey CEO Dave Goldberg posits that perhaps people are simply getting more used to the idea that their email and other accounts could be hacked.
Additionally, he suggests that high-profile attacks like the Sony Pictures Entertainment attack in November did not register to the public as a direct threat to their own lives. The movie at the focal point of the Sony attack, “The Interview,” was still widely available to consumers and the issue did not disrupt everyday lives.
The report found that while 67% of those surveyed believe the volume of cyberattacks in the U.S. will increase, a mere 16% felt that cybersecurity should be a top priority. Goldberg proposes that until a really bad cyberattack happens to someone, that person will not see cyber attacks as a relevant threat.
The survey also revealed misinformation about cybersecurity. Fifty-four percent of respondents said they did not know President Obama mentioned cybersecurity in his State of the Union address, despite the fact that he mentioned it numerous times and has asked Congress to approve legislation regarding cybersecurity.
Goldberg says he hopes people will recognize the imminent threat posed by cyberattacks before something destructive occurs.
Video Source: Bloomberg News
