Cyber security a growing concern for Canadians

Canadians are more concerned about cyber security than they were in 2016.

According to the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)’s latest Internet Factbook, 75 per cent of Canadians are worried about the threat of cyber attacks against organizations they know, a 13 per cent increase from 2016.

They’re also less likely to make online purchases from a business after a cyber attack: Nearly 45 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they would probably stop buying items online from a business following a major cyber attack, which happens nine times more often per capita in Canada than in the U.S.

“The first step to building a better online Canada is understanding the experiences, perceptions and needs of Canadian internet users,” Byron Holland, CIRA president and CEO, said in a press release.

Jacques Latour, CIRA’s chief technology officer, echoed Holland’s statement, while calling for investment in Canada’s Internet infrastructure, which he said would contribute to a healthier online environment in Canada.

“Over three quarters of Canadians are concerned about their personal information on the Internet if it is stored or routed through the U.S,” Latour said. “Investing in Canadian Internet infrastructure, which includes local Internet exchange points that help Canadian data stay within our borders, should be a priority for governments, businesses and Canadian Internet service providers.”

But it’s not just large companies that have to contend with cyber attacks. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Cyber Security in Canada report says 71 per cent of all breaches impact small businesses.

Ransomware attacks, which lock down a user’s system in a demand for money, are now seeking an average of $1,000 and becoming increasingly popular among hackers targeting businesses with a lack of resources and technical expertise, the report said.

Mobile devices, which Canadians are using twice as often since 2013 to access the Internet, are another gold mine for cyber attacks.

A survey conducted by Dimensional Research earlier this year reported that 20 per cent of companies’ mobile devices have been breached, while 24 per cent didn’t know if they had experienced an attack.

According to Dimensional Research, nearly 65 per cent of companies aren’t sure they can prevent mobile cyber attacks in the first place.

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Alex Coop
Alex Coophttp://www.itwc.ca
Former Editorial Director for IT World Canada and its sister publications.

Featured Articles

Cybersecurity in 2024: Priorities and challenges for Canadian organizations 

By Derek Manky As predictions for 2024 point to the continued expansion...

Survey shows generative AI is a top priority for Canadian corporate leaders.

Leaders are devoting significant budget to generative AI for 2024 Canadian corporate...

Related Tech News

Tech Jobs

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

Tech Companies Hiring Right Now