Home Distractions a Major Cause of Cybersecurity Errors During Lockdown
Leo Daniels • July 23, 2020
This is a subtitle for your new post
Nearly half (43%) of UK and US employees have made errors leading to cybersecurity repercussions, according to a new study from Tessian.
The analysis, undertaken in April during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggests that the disruption and additional stress and distractions of remote working are making organizations more vulnerable to cyber-attacks facilitated by human error.
In the survey of 1000 workers in the UK and 1000 workers in the US, a quarter admitted to clicking on a link in a phishing email whilst at work. This most commonly occurred in the technology sector (47%).
Additionally, 20% of companies revealed they have lost customers due to sending an email to the wrong person. This was a mistake 58% of employees admitted to making and a further 10% said they had lost their job as a result.
Distraction was the biggest cause for these kinds of mistakes, according to the report. Nearly half (47%) highlighted being distracted as the main reason for falling for a phishing scam while 41% said this was the biggest factor in sending an email to the wrong person.
Other major reasons for clicking on phishing links were fatigue (44%) the perceived legitimacy of the email (43%) and because the emails purportedly came from a senior executive (41%) or well known brand (41%).
Over half of workers (52%) added that they make more mistakes at work when stressed, 43% when tired and 41% when distracted. Notably, 57% of workers stated they are more distracted when working from home.
With home working set to become much more common following the health crisis, the report suggests businesses need to focus on providing more extensive user awareness training.
Tim Sadler, CEO and co-founder of Tessian, commented: “To prevent simple mistakes from turning into serious security incidents, businesses must prioritize cybersecurity at the human layer. This requires understanding individual employees’ behaviors and using that insight to tailor training and policies to make safe cybersecurity practices truly resonate for each person.”
We’re 1-fix, we can help you secure your business
At 1-fix, we take a realistic approach to technology – ensuring our client’s systems are best protected.
If you have any concerns, questions or simply want to explore how to better secure your business, please do get in touch with the team for a FREE demonstration, consultation to explore how exposed your business might be and identify actions to take.
Join Our Mailing List
All sign-ups are handled inline with our privacy policy and can unsubscribe at any time.
Recent Blogs
In a world where AI is changing how we work and compete, security is more important than ever. We are gathering industry leaders and AI experts for a special roundtable event. This event will focus on a key topic: AI security.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic offers a range of cloud-based services designed to empower businesses to work smarter and more efficiently. Let's delve into what this package includes and how it can benefit your organisation.
We’re excited to announce an informative webinar featuring Elliot Wilkie from Brigantia and Craig Atkins from 1-Fix, diving deep into the world of DMARC on 8th July at 2 PM . This is an essential session for anyone looking to secure their email communications, understand DMARC compliance, and enhance their email deliverability.
Businesses are constantly seeking ways to enhance productivity, collaboration, and security, all whilst managing costs effectively. Microsoft Office 365 presents a comprehensive solution that caters to these needs. Here’s a breakdown of the seven key benefits of using Office 365 for your business.
In recent news from Microsoft, there’s significant information affecting charity organisations that rely on Microsoft 365 for their everyday operations. Microsoft has announced that it will be discontinuing the Microsoft 365 Business Premium grant, which currently provides 10 free licenses to nonprofits, with termination slated for March 8, 2026 . Therefore, charities currently benefitting from this grant must prepare for upcoming changes.
Staying efficient and connected has never been more important for businesses. With the increasing demand for remote work solutions and collaborative tools, migrating to Microsoft Office 365 is becoming an essential strategy. In this blog post, we’ll explore the many benefits of Office 365 migration, how 1-Fix can assist you in the process, and how swift and seamless this transition can be.
