Source: CNA
Forty percent of citizens and nearly half of businesses have experienced some sort of cyber attack in the past 12 months, according to surveys on cyber security.
According to the Commissioner of Communications, the Digital Security Authority conducted in October and November this year two surveys throughout Cyprus to collect data and information on cyber security among 1025 citizens and 450 businesses.
The surveys showed that almost half of the businesses (46%) were attacked or suffered a security breach in the last 12 months with an average of 3-4 attacks per month, while of the businesses that were attacked, 48% had a financial cost amounting to almost 23,000 euro on average. The most frequent attack was phishing (36%).
It is noted that there is ignorance on the part of companies about seminars offered on cyber security issues since half of the companies do not know about them while only 17% participated in them. The businesses that participated in seminars had taken actions to strengthen their security measures.
As regards citizens, 40% of those that participated in the survey have said they had suffered an attack in the last 12 months with an average of 20.9 breaches/attacks per year. Among those, 19% had suffered costs amounting to 318 euros on average. The most frequent attack was phishing with 30%.
Only 9% said they had participated in a seminar on cybersecurity. The survey showed that those who attended seminars proceeded to security changes such as the use of stronger passwords, more frequent password changes and avoidance of suspicious websites.
The Authority says that it will organize education seminars on the matter. The results of the surveys can be found at https://dsa.cy/category/press-releases/consumers-survey
