A recent survey conducted by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, titled “Digital Superstitions,” sheds light on the concerning lack of awareness and proactive measures taken by respondents in Egypt to protect their personal data online. The survey revealed that 28 percent of participants were unaware of what information about them is publicly available on the internet.
Among those who recognized the availability of their personal information online, the survey showed that some had attempted to remove it entirely from the web. However, only 43 percent of these individuals took any action, while 13 percent believed it was impossible to remove their information, and 6 percent had no knowledge of how to do so.
Respondents from Egypt who were aware of their publicly available data most commonly mentioned full names (67 percent), personal photos (58 percent), and email addresses (30 percent) as the types of information accessible online. Additionally, a significant number of people allowed their personal phone numbers (36 percent), place of work or study (37 percent), and residential or registration addresses (51 percent) to be openly available on the internet.
Nevertheless, personal data can also end up online due to data breaches and leaks from companies. Concerns about such incidents were expressed by 27 percent of respondents, who feared potential trouble as a result. Additionally, 8 percent specifically worried about the leakage of bank card data. Surprisingly, nearly half of the respondents (49 percent) expressed no concern, believing that their personal data could not be used maliciously.
Maher Yamout, Senior Security Researcher at Kaspersky’s Global Research & Analysis Team, emphasized the importance of protecting personal data and the potential consequences of its exposure. Yamout warned against storing or posting confidential information on social networks and encouraged the use of encrypted forms of communication. The researcher also advised individuals to secure their accounts with strong and unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and employ reliable security solutions like Kaspersky Premium.
To raise awareness about personal data protection, Kaspersky recommends conducting a basic test by searching for one’s first and last name in quotes on an internet search engine to assess what others can find. By following these security tips and adopting a proactive approach to safeguarding personal data, individuals can minimize the risk of cybercriminals exploiting their information for fraudulent activities.
