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Costly content at risk

The average cost of multimedia files that a user might lose from a device as a result of a cyber attack or other damage is estimated at $418, according to a Consumer Security Risks Survey, conducted by B2B International and Kaspersky Lab.

Many of these losses could be prevented, but after users purchase digital content they often fail to take appropriate steps to ensure that content is secure.

Users can lose files in a number of different ways: losing a device, having a device stolen, or falling victim to malicious users. Cybercriminals understand that users value their files, which is why they are constantly developing new malware that can encrypt data on a hard drive and then demand a ransom to have those files restored and returned.

According to the B2B International survey, over the past year 27% of respondents encountered a cyber attack. At the same time, over 60% of users who were victims of malware that either damaged or destroyed data admitted that they had not been able to fully restore their files. During the same period, approximately 14% of users dealt with the loss, theft or crash of their device.

Studies have shown that potential losses resulting from the loss of multimedia content (in other words, the monetary value of the files that cannot be restored) is higher among younger respondents, who actively download music and movies. For example, respondents in the 16-24 age group would face an average loss of $670, while those in the 25-34 group would incur an average loss of $455; users aged 45 and older would lose an average of $227.

When it comes to the value of data losses in different countries, residents of China and Russia were likely to incur the highest average losses at $816 and $807 per user, respectively. This figure is considerably lower in Europe ($378) and North America ($342).

In order to protect digital assets, users not only need to back up their data on a regular basis – they also need to secure their personal devices against malicious attacks designed to steal or extort data. Smartphones and tablets should also have additional tools to help locate a lost device or to mitigate the potential damages of device theft.

Kaspersky Lab offers this through Kaspersky Internet Security – Multi-Device, a comprehensive solution to provide maximum user protection against all types of cyber threats. The solution includes individual products protecting Microsoft and Mac computers, as well as smartphones and tablets running on Android. iPhone and iPad owners can download the Kaspersky Safe Browser app free of charge to safely and securely view Web content on their devices.

For more information, www.kaspersky.co.za

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