Employees Aware of Emailed Threats Open Suspicious Messages

A survey of 1,000 employees finds 96% of employees are aware of digital threats, but 45% click emails they consider to be suspicious.

Security awareness training doesn’t always lead to improved behavior, as indicated in a survey of more than 1,000 employees around the world. The data raises concerns because most people have increased the use of company-issued devices for personal matters, Mimecast researchers report.

The survey found 73% of respondents “extensively use” corporate devices for personal tasks such as personal email (47%), financial transactions (38%), and online shopping (35%). Sixty percent admit to doing this more often since starting to work remotely. 

Nearly all (96% of) employees surveyed claim to be aware that malicious links in their email, social media feeds, and websites they browse could potentially infect their devices. Nearly two-thirds (64%) report receiving cybersecurity awareness training specifically related to working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this, nearly half (45%) admit to opening emails they consider to be suspicious, and the same percentage admit they don’t report suspicious emails to their IT or security teams. In the United States, 78% claim they’ve had special awareness training but 60% still open potentially suspicious emails, researchers found. 

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