The Generation Gap in Computer Security

THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Introduction
The broad adoption of digital media and social networking combined with the increasing amount of sensitive
data stored online is making personal computer security more important than ever. But do different generations
understand this problem and protect their systems while online? Does the younger, more tech-savvy generation
manage computer security more effectively, or do more mature individuals who are often more guarded with their
personal data protect themselves better?
The following report, sponsored by ZoneAlarm (Check Point Software Technologies’ consumer business), presents
the results of a global survey of 1,245 PC users conducted in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany,
and Australia during March 2012. The goal of this study was to quantify generational differences towards personal
computer security. In this report, “Gen Y” is defined as 18- to 25-year-olds, and “Baby Boomers” refers to
56- to 65-year olds.
Key Findings
• Computer security increases in priority with age
-- Only 31% of Gen Y participants rank security as the most important consideration when making decisions
about their computers compared to 58% of Baby Boomers
-- Gen Y is more likely to prioritize entertainment and community above security
-- Approximately 36% of Baby Boomers are “very concerned” about security and privacy compared to only
20% of Gen Y
-- Baby Boomers are more concerned about email attacks; Gen Y is more concerned about attacks through
social networks and P2P file-sharing networks
• Gen Y is overconfident in its security knowledge
-- 63% of Gen Y claims to be knowledgeable about security compared to 59% of Baby Boomers
-- Yet, 50% of Gen Y respondents have had security issues in the past two years compared to only 42% of Baby
Boomers
• Gen Y has less sophisticated security due to cost and technical barriers
-- Gen Y is less likely to use paid antivirus, 3rd-party firewalls, or integrated security suites than Baby Boomers
-- 45% of Gen Y participants say security software is too expensive compared to 37% of Baby Boomers
• Sensitive data is stored on computers yet participants, especially Gen Y, ignore security best practices
-- 84% of people keep sensitive data, such as tax records, financial info, and passwords on their computers
-- Among participants of all generations, 71% do not follow security best practices of supplementing antivirus
software with a firewall
-- 78% of Gen Y do not follow security best practices compared to 53% of Baby Boomers
Sponsored by
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© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Detailed Findings
Importance of computer security increases with age
Participants were asked to rate the relative importance of different computer-related activities when making
decisions about their computers and the applications used, including:
• Security: Confidence that personal information is safe and systems are secure
• Productivity: Quick access to applications such as Microsoft Office, email, calendars, to-do lists
• Entertainment: The organization and use of music, video, and games
• Information: Access to news, product research, and online personal accounts
• Community: Interaction via social media, instant messaging, Internet calls, and video chat
Among all participants, almost half (48%) ranked security as the most important of these activities. However,
there was a clear trend that younger participants were much less likely to rank security as their most important
consideration than older participants.
Security most important -­‐ by age 70% 60% 46% 50% 40% 51% 54% 36-­‐45 46-­‐55 58% 48% 31% 30% 20% 10% 0% 18-­‐25 (Gen Y) 26-­‐35 56-­‐65 (Baby Boomers) All Gen Y prioritizes entertainment and community
Gen Y was 27% less likely (31% vs. 58%) to rank security as its top priority compared to Baby Boomers. Instead
Gen Y participants were much more likely to put a higher priority on entertainment and community. Gen Y
participants were 18% more likely (22% vs. 4%) to indicate entertainment was their top priority and 14% more
likely (18% vs. 4%) to indicate community was most important compared to Baby Boomers.
Page 2
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© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Baby Boomers more concerned about security and privacy
While 28% of all survey participants reported being “very concerned” about security and privacy when using their
computers, Baby Boomers were much more likely, 36%, to describe themselves this way than younger generations.
In comparison, only 20% of Gen Y participants indicated that they were “very concerned” about security.
Very concerned about computer security and privacy -­‐ by age 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 32% 20% 20% 18 -­‐ 25 (Gen Y) 26 -­‐ 35 36 -­‐ 45 34% 36% 28% 46 -­‐ 55 56 -­‐ 65 (Baby Boomers) All Generational differences in concerns about security attacks
Both Gen Y and Baby Boomers were most concerned about the potential security threat from infected websites.
However, there were distinct differences in the types of security attacks that caused concern among the different
age groups. Baby Boomers were much more concerned about attacks coming through email, (35% vs. 18%)
whereas Gen Y indicated greater concern (24% vs. 9%) about attacks originating from social networks or P2P
file-sharing networks.
Source of security a.acks causing most concern 49% Infected websites 53% 35% Email Gen Y 9% Social and P2P networks 24% 0% Page 3
Baby Boomers 18% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% www.dimensionalresearch.com
60% © 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Gen Y is overconfident about security knowledge
Gen Y participants described themselves as slightly more knowledgeable about security with 63% indicating that
they were knowledgeable about security threats compared to 59% of Baby Boomers.
Knowledgeable about security Baby Boomers 59% Gen Y 63% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65% However, Gen Y participants reported that they actually experienced more security problems than Baby Boomers.
Half (50%) of all Gen Y participants indicated that they have had computer security issues in the past two years
compared to only 42% of Baby Boomers.
Have experienced computer security issues in the past two years Baby Boomers 42% Gen Y 50% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% In particular, Gen Y reported more virus infections (42%) compared to Baby Boomers (35%).
Have you had any of the following computer security issues in the last 2 years? 38% 35% Virus infecCon 42% 9% 8% 10% Hacked computer or account All Baby Boomers Gen Y 4% 4% 4% ID the0/stolen finanical info 0% Page 4
5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% www.dimensionalresearch.com
© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Gen Y less likely to use additional security software
Gen Y is less likely to use additional security software beyond the basics that come with the Windows operating
system. These participants reported using fewer paid antivirus, 3rd-party firewalls, and integrated security suites that
include both a firewall and antivirus.
Use addi(onal security so1ware 27% Integrated security suite 12% 34% Paid an8virus Baby Boomers 24% Gen Y 22% 3rd-­‐party firewall 10% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% Cost and technical issues create barrier to greater use of security software
Gen Y has greater cost sensitivity than Baby Boomers, which is a barrier to using more paid security software. More
Gen Y respondents, 45%, claimed that one of the reasons they do not use more security software is because it is too
expensive. This compares to only 37% of Baby Boomers citing the same issue.
Reasons for not using more security so1ware 37% It's too expensive 28% 26% I think MicrosoA has me covered with built-­‐in security soAware 16% 18% Security soAware slows down my computer Baby Boomers Gen Y 12% 12% I have had technical problems with security soAware in the past 6% I have had problems upda:ng my security soAware in the past 0% Page 5
45% 10% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% www.dimensionalresearch.com
© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Agreement among generations that security software should be free
While there were many differences between generations in this study, the opinion that security software should be
free was commonly shared across all ages. Approximately half of all participants, 48%, indicated that “free” is the
price they expect to pay for security software.
Expect security so.ware to be free 60% 50% 48% 50% 50% 53% 48% 41% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 18 -­‐ 25 (Gen Y) 26 -­‐ 35 36 -­‐ 45 46 -­‐ 55 56 -­‐ 65 (Baby Boomers) All All generations keep sensitive data on their computers
The difference in attitudes towards security was unrelated to the amount of personal information stored on their
computers. Across all age groups, most participants (84%) kept sensitive personal data such as tax records, financial
information, and passwords on their computers.
Keep personal data on their computers -­‐ by age 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Page 6
82% 86% 83% 86% 18 -­‐ 25 (Gen Y) 26 -­‐ 35 36 -­‐ 45 46 -­‐ 55 82% 84% 56 -­‐ 65 (Baby Boomers) All www.dimensionalresearch.com
© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
Participants, especially Gen Y, do not follow security best practices
A generally accepted best practice among all personal computing security experts is that each computer should have
a two-way firewall in addition to antivirus software. Given these guidelines, we evaluated how many participants
were following these best practices. In general, 71% of all survey participants do not follow these security best
practices. Baby Boomers did a much better job than any other generation with almost half following these best
practices. Gen Y was the least protected with 78% not following these best practices.
Do not follow security best prac3ces All 71% Baby Boomers 53% Gen Y 78% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Survey Methodology
In March 2012, independent groups of PC users were invited to participate in a Web survey on the topic of personal
computer security sponsored by ZoneAlarm. A total of 1,245 respondents across the United States, Canada, United
Kingdom, Germany, and Australia completed the survey, all of whom had responsibility for purchasing and
maintaining their personal desktop or laptop computer.
Age of Par*cipants Loca%on Australia 17% United States 33% Germany 17% Canada 16% Gender 18 -­‐ 25 years old 20% Male 41% 26 -­‐ 35 years old 20% 46 -­‐ 55 years old 20% United Kingdom 17% Page 7
56 -­‐ 65 years old 20% Female 59% 36 -­‐ 45 years old 20% www.dimensionalresearch.com
© 2012 Dimensional Research.
All Rights Reserved.
THE GENERATION GAP IN COMPUTER SECURITY:
A SECURITY USE SURVEY FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS
Dimensional Research
|
June 2012
About Dimensional Research
Dimensional Research® provides practical marketing research to help technology companies make their customers
more successful. Our researchers are experts in the people, processes, and technology of corporate IT and understand
how IT organizations operate. We partner with our clients to deliver actionable information that reduces risks,
increases customer satisfaction, and grows the business. For more information visit www.dimensionalresearch.com.
About Check Point Software Technologies
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet,
provides customers with uncompromised protection against all types of threats, reduces security complexity and
lowers total cost of ownership. Check Point first pioneered the industry with FireWall-1® and its patented stateful
inspection technology. Today, Check Point continues to develop new innovations based on the Software Blade
Architecture™, providing customers with flexible and simple solutions that can be fully customized to meet the exact
security needs of any organization. Check Point is the only vendor to go beyond technology and define security as a
business process. Check Point 3D Security uniquely combines policy, people and enforcement for greater protection
of information assets and helps organizations implement a blueprint for security that aligns with business needs.
Customers include tens of thousands of organizations of all sizes, including all Fortune and Global 100 companies.
Check Point’s award-winning ZoneAlarm solutions protect millions of consumers from hackers, spyware and
identity theft.
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© 2012 Dimensional Research.
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