Webroot Report: Top 5 Riskiest and Safest States for Cyberattacks

After surveying more than 4,000 individuals in the U.S. about their cybersecurity knowledge and internet safety practices, Webroot found that Florida ranks as the riskiest state. Wyoming and Montana followed closely behind, demonstrating that the lack of cybersecurity education spans the breadth of the U.S. On the other side of the security awareness spectrum, Webroot's data demonstrated that internet users in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Utah have the safest online habits.

Despite some of the largest data breaches in history occurring in 2017, such as the Equifax breach that disclosed the financial information of more than 145.5 million Americans, this new Webroot report illustrates that many U.S. residents still don't fully understand the risks they face online.

See How Every State Ranks in Webroot's Riskiest States Report

Notable Findings and Analysis:

• Risky Behavior. Overall, less than one in four Americans (24 percent) regularly monitor bank and credit card statements, block pop-ups, update online account passwords, and take precautions before clicking on an email — all of which are factors that would increase online security. Additionally, only 50 percent of American's use antivirus or other internet security software on their laptops, desktops, and/or smartphones.
• Password Problems. 72 percent of Floridians reported they share passwords or other access credentials with others. In comparison, over half (53 percent) of survey respondents in New Hampshire claimed that they never share passwords with others.
• Battle of the Generations. With Florida leading the pack as the riskiest state, many might assume that age plays a significant role in determining risk. However, 75 percent of respondents 30 and under were found to have a higher level of cyber riskiness than older-aged respondents. 
• Desktops and Laptops. Respondents who have five or fewer desktops or laptops have a higher level of cyber riskiness (or lower level of cyber hygiene) than respondents with six or more. This demonstrates that more devices does not necessarily equate to more cyber risk. 

Key Quote:
David Dufour, Vice President of Engineering and Cybersecurity, Webroot
"Regardless of the region, the riskiest states index shows that many people in the U.S. are jeopardizing their safety with inadequate cybersecurity practices. To help fight widespread threats like ransomware and phishing attacks, internet users should run a security solution on their personal devices and make sure that all security and other software applications are up to date."

Tips to Stay Secure Online

• Practice good judgement. Be extra vigilant about the websites you visit, the URLs you click, and mobile apps you use. Anything suspicious could be part of phishing schemes, where individuals who click through are led to a false site designed to steal their data.
• Use a password. Lock mobile devices to ensure data remains secure. Also, use a password manager app to generate and store strong, unique passwords for all of your accounts.
• Skip the public WiFi. Criminals can compromise your device if you're using an unsecured network. Opt to use your mobile data or connect to a VPN to secure your session instead.
• Choose your cards wisely. If a criminal gets your debit card info, your bank may not replace the money they steal. Credit cards may be the safer way to pay, depending on your financial institution.
• Use a reliable antivirus software. Look for cybersecurity solutions that continuously protect personal information without taking up disk space or otherwise affecting user experience by making devices unavailable during scans.

Additional Resources:

• Blog post
• Riskiest States Infographic
• Webroot SecureAnywhere

About the Riskiest States Report 
Webroot's Riskiest States Report was conducted in conjunction with the Ponemon Institute in April 2018. To measure the riskiest and safest states, a total of 4,290 respondents were surveyed, consisting of consumers in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

About Webroot
Webroot was the first to harness the cloud and artificial intelligence to protect businesses and individuals against cyber threats. We provide the number one security solution for managed service providers and small businesses, who rely on Webroot for endpoint protection, network protection, and security awareness training. Webroot BrightCloud^® Threat Intelligence Services are used by market leading companies like Cisco, F5 Networks, Citrix, Aruba, Palo Alto Networks, A10 Networks, and more. Leveraging the power of machine learning to protect millions of businesses and individuals, Webroot secures the connected world. Headquartered in Colorado, Webroot operates globally across North America, Europe, and Asia. Discover Smarter Cybersecurity^® solutions at webroot.com.

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