Kaspersky's new survey reveals that 42% of dating app users and 38 percent on Facebook face frequent scams
Kaspersky has unveiled a survey report titled ‘Digital Uncertainty: Scams, Privacy and Artificial Intelligence,’ which highlights frequent encounters with scams across various digital platforms.
According to the report, 42 percent of users have stumbled upon scams on online dating apps, 38 percent on Facebook, and 18 percent on online sports betting sites, with 29 percent of users admitting to falling victim to scams on these platforms.
The survey, which encompassed 2,000 North American adults from the US and Canada, also disclosed that a significant portion of users, nearly six in ten, had changed their passwords for security reasons within the past six months.
Furthermore, a substantial 75 percent of consumers expressed a desire for new privacy regulations in 2024. The data shows a notable increase in phishing attacks, which grew by 40 percent in 2023.
Scammers have broadened their methods beyond traditional emails and websites to include social media, messaging apps, online gaming platforms, and cryptocurrency exchanges, often impersonating customer service agents, online daters, or even celebrities.
Advanced AI tools have facilitated the ease with which scammers can operate.
Scams on various platforms show considerable prevalence, with 36 percent of Facebook Marketplace users and 25 percent of Instagram users encountering scams. Additionally, 18 percent of online gaming platform users and 15 percent of online banking customers have faced scams.
Kurt Baumgartner, a principal security researcher with Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team, emphasized the widespread issue of internet scams, advising users to remain vigilant and adopt protective measures such as using multi-factor authentication, avoiding password reuse, and limiting app permissions.
The survey also gathered insights on digital security habits that consumers aim to enhance in 2024. These include being cautious about clicking on links, using stronger passwords, being mindful of online services that request personal data, and applying multi-factor authentication.
Regarding privacy concerns, a significant number of respondents voiced apprehensions about AI's impact on digital privacy and security, with 38 percent believing it will mainly harm these areas.
Concerns were also raised about AI-generated deepfake videos and voice recordings used to spread misinformation, as well as privacy issues related to augmented reality devices with facial recognition technology, such as Apple Vision Pro.
