The increase of cyberattack incidents in New Zealand has led to a significant rise in the adoption of protective online behaviours, according to CERT NZ's latest research, the 2024 Cyber Security Behaviour Tracker.
Despite the shift towards greater cyber vigilance, about one in five New Zealanders remains unconvinced of the personal risk posed by cyber threats.
Sam Leggett, senior threat and incident response coordinator at CERT NZ, highlighted the growing recognition among New Zealanders of the need to actively secure their online presence.
“The survey showed 95% of respondents know they need to take responsibility for themselves when it comes to cybersecurity. This is essential in a world where so much of what we do is digital, and the kinds of threats we face continue to grow and change,” he said. “The good news is that people are now more likely to be doing those simple actions that can keep them secure online.”
The study identified several key behaviours with marked increases in adoption rates, including a 21-percentage-point rise in both the verification of links prior to engagement and the privatisation of social media profiles, a 15-percentage-point increase in password manager usage, and a 13-percentage-point climb in the implementation of two-factor authentication.
The report also noted that individuals who had experienced severe cyber incidents were considerably more likely to change their online behaviours (59%) compared to those unscathed by such threats (37%).
Another report revealed that many New Zealanders are calling for stricter penalties for companies facing cybersecurity breaches.
However, the 2024 Cyber Security Behaviour Tracker shed light on a notable disparity in the perception of cyber risk, particularly among the younger population (ages 18 to 44), who exhibit a lower level of concern for cybersecurity measures.
This group's lax approach to online safety represents a significant challenge, as their confidence in navigating the digital world often does not translate into adequate protective measures against cyber threats.
Leggett underscored the necessity of overcoming this complacency and other barriers to better secure the online environment for all New Zealanders.
“We know young New Zealanders are confident online, but this can lead to overconfidence when faced with an actual threat,” he said. “Our challenge is figuring out how to overcome barriers like this, along with others where people feel they're already doing enough or simply forget.”
