With almost every new day comes yet more research highlighting the growing threat of cyber-crime and fraud, with both the number of victims and the money lost reaching dizzying heights. 

No one denies that in established economies like the UK, being online is no longer an option, but how safe does the average member of the public feel while traversing cyber-space?   

To find out, the Home Office undertook research around public attitudes to cyber-crime and fraud in the UK, aiming to gather information about people’s personal experiences and improve the evidence base for crimes of these types.

The data, collected from interviews with over 2,100 adults across the country, examined perceptions of risk, experiences of victimisation, and people’s confidence in UK law enforcement to respond to cyber-crime.

So what did the UK public have to say?

Not many feel personally at risk of cyber-crime

Despite all those warnings, the UK public aren’t overly concerned about their own cyber-safety.

• Only 50% reported feeling very or fairly at risk of their devices being infected with a virus or other malware.
• Even less (48%) said they feel at risk of someone accessing their online accounts without their permission.
• Just 37% considered themselves at risk of someone accessing their personal devices without their permission.
• And only 38% reported that they feel at risk of money being stolen from their bank account or cards.

However, members of the public surprisingly seem to be a lot more concerned about the impact cyber-crime might have on the state itself.

• 70% said they were concerned about the possibility of cyber-crime against national infrastructure.
• 64% reported being worried about the impact of cyber-crime against UK government agencies, such as the Treasury, Home Office, and Ministry of Defence.
• 58% claimed they were concerned about the use of cyber-crime against UK-based businesses.
• 56% said that they are very or fairly concerned at the possibility of cyber crime against local authorities.

Surprisingly few victims report cyber-crime

Although these figures show what the UK Government calls only a moderate perception of personal cyber-risk, that’s at odds with what the survey found on the number of victims.

• 42% said that their devices had been infected with a virus or other malware
• 25% reported that someone had accessed their online accounts without permission
• 12% claimed someone had taken control of their personal devices

Meanwhile, more than a fifth (22%) reported that they had money stolen from their bank account, and over a third (35%) had unknowingly bought fake or counterfeit goods online, or made a purchase that had never arrived.

For almost half of respondents (49%), these crimes occurred over three years ago, while only 3% experienced a cyber-crime in the last month.

When asked whether they had reported this most recent incident, 39% said they had told their bank, 9% had reported the crime to a social media company, and less than one in ten (8%) went to the police.

More than a third (36%) said they had not reported their experience at all, despite 41% feeling that it had affected them a great deal or fair amount. 

Cybersecurity is a high priority

Most people are taking their online security seriously, with 80% saying that cybersecurity is a fairly or very high priority for them personally, and 44% reporting that it is a ‘very high priority’.

The survey shows that even if most of the public isn’t worried about cyber-crime, the risk of it still influences their behaviours online.

• 87% reported always or often using a password or PIN to unlock their device.
• 68% claimed they used a separate password for their main personal email account.
• 72% ensure they install the latest software and app updates.
• 49% use 2-FA wherever possible.
• 46% said that they back up their data often.

Those good habits are only slightly offset by the fact that just 10% of respondents said they were aware of the Government’s anti-phishing service, with even less (8%) aware of the National Cyber Security Centre, while only 7% knew where to report suspicious texts. 

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Low confidence in law enforcement to tackle cyber-crime

When questioned on their perceptions of the UK Government and law enforcement response to cyber-crime, the results were bleak.

• Over half (59%) said they were not very or not at all confident in the ability of the UK Government to protect the UK from fraud.
• Even more (64%) felt the same way about UK law enforcement.

Just 3% of respondents said they felt very confident in the UK Government’s response to cyber-crime, while only 2% reported confidence in law enforcement to tackle cyber-threats.

Although the new data paints a sometimes confusing, contradictory picture of UK attitudes towards cyber-crime, questions regarding public trust in the new Government’s management of cyber-risks are becoming increasingly urgent as the state begins its national rollout of AI tech.