A recent Kaspersky survey highlights a considerable gap between consumers’ confidence in identifying online scams and their actual exposure to cyber threats. According to the findings, half of respondents (51%) in South Africa reported encountering an online scam or attempted scam within the past 12 months, underscoring the persistent and evolving nature of digital risks. Worryingly, these threats are far from hypothetical: 41% of surveyed users in South Africa have fallen victim to online scams resulting in data compromise or financial loss.
Among those affected, nearly half (46%) experienced scams via social media platforms, while 54% reported investment or financial fraud attempts, 46% – scam associated with fake delivery or postal messages. Phishing emails remain a significant threat as well, impacting 44% of local respondents. These figures point to the increasingly diverse tactics used by cybercriminals to target individuals across multiple channels.
Despite this, confidence levels remain strikingly high: 88% of respondents in South Africa believe they can recognise a scam, with 47% expressing strong certainty in their ability to avoid falling victim. This overconfidence may contribute to risky online behaviour and reduced vigilance.
When it comes to protective measures, respondents in South Africa demonstrate mixed habits. While 66% report using strong and unique passwords, only 34% consistently check URLs before clicking, and 36% avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities. Notably, fewer than half (44%) use a dedicated security solution, which means a significant amount of people can face negative effects from cyberthreats. Alarmingly, 3% admit they do not use any specific security measures at all.
Regular maintenance of digital security tools also appears inconsistent. Just 33% of respondents in South Africa update passwords and review security settings on a regular basis – at least once a month or more often. Meanwhile, 41% do so only occasionally, 22% rarely, and 5% never take such actions.
“The survey findings highlight a critical need for increased awareness and stronger adoption of comprehensive cybersecurity practices. While individual habits such as password hygiene and cautious browsing are essential, they should be complemented by reliable security solutions and regular security updates to effectively mitigate modern cyber threats,” comments Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky.
Kaspersky reminds all users about the basic rules of online security:
- Verify unsolicited messages or links, even if they appear legitimate.
- Never share confidential information with third parties, including a one-time code from an SMS or push notification.
- Limit sharing sensitive details online, such as document photos or sensitive work information.
- Don’t enter payment information on dubious websites.
- Remember: if an offer on the Internet sounds too tempting to be true, then most likely it is fake.
- Install a reliable security solution with up-to-date databases of phishing sites, scam and spam, such as Kaspersky Premium.
