The statistic shows the awareness of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016. At that time, among respondents asked to identify an example of multi-factor authentication (MFA) from a set of images only 10 percent of respondents correctly identified the sole example of MFA, 18 percent were unsure, and 71 percent selected an incorrect image.
Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016
Question asked
Incorrect
Correct
Not sure
Can identify most secure password (from a list of four options)
8%
75%
17%
Public Wi-Fi (even if password protected) is not always safe for sensitive activities
7%
73%
20%
Can identify a "phishing" attack (set of descriptions)
21%
54%
24%
Turning off smartphone GPS function does not prevent all location tracking
22%
52%
26%
Americans can legally obtain one free credit report yearly from each of the three credit bureaus
21%
49%
30%
Ransomware involves criminals encrypting and holding users' data hostage until paid
9%
48%
43%
Email is not encrypted by default
10%
46%
43%
Wi-Fi traffic is not encrypted by default on all wireless routers
11%
45%
44%
Browser programs' "private browsing" mode does not prevent ISPs from monitoring subscribers online activity
12%
39%
49%
https:// in a URL means that information entered into the site is encrypted
12%
33%
54%
A botnet is a networked set of computers used for criminal purposes
10%
16%
73%
A VPN minimizes the risk of using insecure Wi-Fi networks
16%
13%
70%
Can identify only example of multi-factor authentication screen (set of images)
According to the source, the original survey consisted "of 13 questions designed to test Americans’ knowledge of a number of cybersecurity issues and terms."
Figures above or below 100 percent are likely due to rounding.
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Pew Research Center. (March 22, 2017). Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/
Pew Research Center. "Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016." Chart. March 22, 2017. Statista. Accessed December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/
Pew Research Center. (2017). Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 22, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/
Pew Research Center. "Knowledge of Various Cybersecurity Topics among Adults in The United States as of June 2016." Statista, Statista Inc., 22 Mar 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/
Pew Research Center, Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/ (last visited December 22, 2024)
Knowledge of various cybersecurity topics among adults in the United States as of June 2016 [Graph], Pew Research Center, March 22, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/807380/united-states-cybersecurity-topics-awareness/
