Cyber Security Study

The Digital Fears of European Citizens

Two colleagues are working together on a laptop, sitting on a stone staircase outdoors.

This infographic displays the results of a survey on threat perception in Europe (n=14,000). The largest perceived risks are: "Poor cybersecurity practices of companies that have my data" at 43%, "My own online behavior" at 42%, and "Poor cybersecurity practices of government agencies" at 14%. "Other" risks account for 2%.

14,000 Europeans reveal their digital fears

On one hand, citizens are deeply concerned about whether cybersecurity measures and digital sovereignty are sufficient at companies and public authorities. They also see democratic processes, such as elections, threatened by cybercriminals. On the other hand, they criticize their own, often careless behavior regarding personal cybersecurity, feeling unprepared and vulnerable.

The study at a glance: The gap between concern and action

Infographic on identity and data theft in Europe, based on a survey of 14,000 participants. The chart shows that 15% of respondents perceive data theft as very unlikely and 5% as very likely. Additionally, 37% of Europeans state they know someone who has been affected by data theft.

High-risk awareness is shaped by concrete experiences

88 percent of Europeans express concerns about data security and privacy protection with digital services such as streaming platforms, social media and online shops.
In 17 and 18 percent of households, respectively, there have already been cases of credit card misuse or identity or data theft.
Around 37 percent of respondents know someone in their personal circle who has already become a victim.
Respondents see the biggest risks to their digital identity in "my own online behavior" (42 percent) and in "insufficient cybersecurity practices of organizations that have my data" (43 percent).

Infographic on the perception of data and digital identity protection by companies and the government in Europe (n=14,000). The chart shows that 13% of respondents completely agree that companies like banks and streaming services do enough to protect them. Only 8% completely agree that the government does enough.

Trust in European companies and authorities

Low trust in state institutions: More than half of Europeans (56 percent) believe that companies are not doing enough to protect their digital identity and data from cyberattacks. Only 31 percent believe that government agencies are taking sufficient measures.
Digital sovereign offerings from Europe are trustworthy: Two-thirds of Europeans (72%) trust European companies. Only a small number of Europeans trust Chinese (8%) or American (20%) providers of digital products or services to handle their personal data carefully.

Infographic on the biggest cybersecurity concerns of Europeans regarding suspicious activities, based on a survey of 14,000 participants. The chart lists the top worries: money being withdrawn from bank accounts (77%), passwords being known (74%), online purchases by thieves (74%), being locked out of online accounts (73%), data being sold to cybercriminals (71%), smartphone takeover (70%), and impersonation on social media (64%).

The biggest concerns are financial security and identity theft

Biggest concerns: Financial security and identity theft: The fears associated with identity theft are predominantly financial in nature. 77 percent of respondents are very or rather concerned that criminals could withdraw money from their bank accounts, closely followed by the fear of password theft (74 percent) and the fear of unauthorized online purchases (74 percent).
Inadequate protective measures: Despite the high level of concern, the active use of advanced security measures varies. While 82 percent state that they use strong passwords, only 59 percent use two-factor authentication and only 19 percent use a VPN.

Infographic on the sources through which Europeans discover credit card fraud or identity theft (n=14,000). The majority, 57%, discover the fraud themselves. 29% are informed by a company affected by a data breach, 7% learn about it from the news, and 3% are notified by law enforcement.

Measures and information / transparency

Awareness versus action: Although 61.9 percent of Europeans are familiar with the "Darknet," only 10 percent have private cyber insurance, and only 28 percent show interest in taking out such a policy.
Detection by those affected themselves: In the event of identity or data theft, the burden of discovery often lies with the individual: 57 percent of those affected discovered the misuse themselves, while only 29 percent were informed about it by a company. After detection, only 53 percent also reported the incident to law enforcement agencies.

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About the cyber security study

The representative study was commissioned by Schwarz Digits and conducted in 14 European countries with around 14,000 participants via an online survey. It underscores the widespread fear of identity theft and the concern about the serious effects of cyberattacks on democracy and businesses. It illustrates the urgent need for improved security measures at a personal and institutional level.

The pan-European survey, which took place in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom, paints a picture of a society that lives a digital life despite considerable digital fears.

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Press release on the cyber security study

Europe’s citizens are concerned about their digital security, yet the responsibility for it seems unclear. Our comprehensive cybersecurity study with 14,000 Europeans shows that trust in companies and authorities is low, but people also often neglect their own precautionary measures.

Read our press release to learn about the surprising results, the specific concerns of citizens and how Schwarz Digits contributes to a safer digital Europe with sovereign solutions.

Read the press release