Cybercrime is impacting communities differently, study finds
New research uncovers that trends in cybercrime mirror the widening digital divide accelerated by the pandemic leaving lower-income and vulnerable audiences disproportionally impacted.
Malwarebytes, a global leader in real-time cyber protection, released the findings of "The Demographics of Cybercrime" report, with non-profit partners, Digitunity and Cybercrime Support Network.
The overall analysis of data suggests disadvantaged groups facing barriers in society, such as those with lower incomes and lower education levels, feel less safe about their online experiences, are more likely to fall victim to an attack, and at times report experiencing a heavier emotional burden when responding to cyberattacks.
Differing impacts of cybercrime
Women, black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) people, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds bear a disproportionate burden when it comes to the impact of cyber crime, according to a new study that appears to show underlying trends in digitally enabled crime are mirroring the digital divide in society.
Women were significantly more likely than men to say they didn’t feel safe online, with 35% of women surveyed saying they didn’t feel safe, compared with just 27% of men. More than half of women, 53%, said they did not feel private online, compared with 47% of men.
"Understanding the impact that cybercrime has on vulnerable people (or populations), particularly women and minorities, across the world is critical as online access becomes essential to modern life. The disparity between populations feeling safe online and the emotional impact of threats on already vulnerable communities is unacceptable," said Marcin Kleczynski, CEO of Malwarebytes. "
Depending on the type of cybercrime, certain groups report a higher likelihood of encountering threats online. For example, more women receive text messages from unknown numbers that include potentially malicious links than men (79% compared to 73%) and more Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour (BIPOC) experience hacked social media accounts (45% compared to 40%) and instances of identity theft than White people (21% compared to 15%). Additionally, individuals aged 65 years or older have had their credit card information stolen more than anyone from a younger age group (36%).
"As technology and internet accessibility become more entwined in our day-to-day routines, our financial and emotional lives are more significantly impacted by cybercrime," says Robert Burda, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Cybercrime Support Network. "With a greater understanding of how the digital world impacts disadvantaged communities, we can provide better programs and resources that meet people where they are."
