Cybersecurity has become a major family talking point with nearly half of Brits saying they discuss the topic over dinner. Not only that, nearly three-quarters of Brits (74%) say they’re more concerned about cybersecurity risks today than they were two years ago.
These are two of the findings in Mastercard’s recent survey of British people’s attitudes to cyber risk to mark Cybersecurity Awareness month.
Specifically, the survey of 1,000 people living in the UK found that:
- 43% of Brits have discussed cybersecurity at the dinner table in the past month, rising to 52% among Gen Z and nearly two-thirds (61%) of Millenials.
- Half of UK adults (50%) think about cybersecurity threats at least once a week — considerably more than they think about job security (32%).
- Scam attempts are widespread, with 80% of respondents reporting having been targeted at least once in the past year, most commonly via text message (65%). Nearly 1 in 3 people (29%) engaged with these scams, including 45% of Gen Z, 42% of Millennials, 21% of Gen X, and 14% of Boomers.
- Looking at types of fraud, shopping and retail fraud is most common (31%), followed by investment and cryptocurrency schemes (28%), identity theft attempts (25%) and romance or dating deception (20%).
- AI-generated fake content is a key concern for UK consumers. Yet only 11% feel very confident in their ability to detect AI-driven threats or scams.
- Two-thirds of Brits (66%) believe it is more difficult to protect their personal data online than to secure their own home. And 62% would welcome formal education or training on how to handle scams – rising to 69% among Gen Z.
- 76% of respondents say they trust their financial services providers to protect them from fraudulent transactions more than they trust themselves.
Simon Forbes, divisional president UKI at Mastercard, said: “Worrying about cybersecurity is a daily reality for millions of people. With scams becoming more sophisticated and AI-generated threats on the rise, it’s clear that awareness alone isn’t enough. We all have a role to play in the fight against scams. At Mastercard, we empower consumers and businesses with the tools, education and confidence to build a more secure digital world for all.”
The survey also found that many consumers are already taking proactive steps to safeguard themselves against fraud. This includes:
- Keeping software and apps updated (71%)
- Checking sender before opening emails (67%)
- Using strong password practices (72%)
- Verifying unknown communications (69%)
- Enabling two-factor authentication (65%)
- Using security software and tools (58%)
- Verifying website URLs before entering personal info (55%)
- Enabling biometric authentication to log in to digital accounts or apps (54%)
- Reviewing and adjusting privacy settings (50%)
- Using secure networks / VPNs (50%)
Mastercard is dedicated to creating a higher standard of trust in the payment ecosystem, democratising cybersecurity to create new opportunities for businesses. Its suite of cybersecurity services focuses on assessing cyber risk exposure, providing AI and other technology-driven innovations to protect the digital environment and making continuous advancements to organise trust for people and businesses around the world.
