NEW research from Okta, Inc., an independent identity provider, shows that Europeans are increasingly concerned about digital identity theft and the role of AI in making online life less safe.
The study, which surveyed over 4,000 consumers in the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, reveals that 92% of Britons are worried about digital identity theft. Over the past year, more than half (56%) of British consumers have become more aware of their digital footprint, citing the rise in cyber-attacks (33%) and the growing influence of AI (28%) as the main reasons.
Additionally, the majority of British consumers believe that AI has made the online environment less safe (56%) and increases the likelihood of digital identity attacks (58%). In comparison, 51% of French consumers are very worried about digital identity theft, followed by 37% in the UK, 36% in Germany, and 29% in the Netherlands.
Okta’s 2024 European Consumer Identity Survey also highlighted several key findings about the everyday practices and concerns of European digital consumers:
Basic Cyber Hygiene Not Enough to Quell Hacks Two-thirds (69%) of Britons surveyed know someone personally who has had their personal details hacked. This awareness has led to increased adoption of basic cyber hygiene practices, with 43% using different passwords for every online account, while only 10% use the same password for everything.
Online Banking a Top Target Consumers consider online banking the top target for cyber-criminals (60%). However, they are significantly less worried about social media and workplace accounts, other common targets for cyber-criminals. Only 12% of consumers think their social media profiles are primary targets, despite containing personal details, and just 2% believe the same about their workplace accounts.
Secure Login Remains a Headache for Many Nearly three-quarters (73%) of British consumers plan to improve their digital identity strategy for better security and see protecting their online identity as a personal responsibility (53%). A quarter (25%) believe protecting online identity should be a shared responsibility between individuals, the government, and businesses.
