NordVPN: Koreans Have Basic Cybersecurity Knowledge but Struggle to Respond to New Digital Threats
TECHWORLD ·
✦ AI Summary
NordVPN released the results of the 2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Test (NPT).
This year's survey was an annual public survey in which 23,181 people across 167 countries answered 24 questions.
South Korea ranked 10th worldwide with a score of 40 out of 100, showing strong awareness of basic security habits but low understanding of privacy practices and responses to emerging threats.
NordVPN released the results of the '2026 Cybersecurity Awareness Test (National Privacy Test, NPT).' The Cybersecurity Awareness Test is NordVPN's annual public survey designed to assess knowledge of cybersecurity and online privacy.
This year's survey covered 167 countries, with 23,181 participants answering 24 questions. The questions focused on everyday digital habits, privacy awareness, and digital risks.
According to NordVPN, South Korea ranked 10th worldwide with a score of 40 out of 100. Korean respondents were found to have a strong awareness of basic security habits and to know some fundamental cybersecurity rules.
However, NordVPN said Korean users have difficulty with practical privacy protection measures and responding to emerging digital threats. The survey found that Korean respondents lacked understanding of privacy tools, had insufficient knowledge about data sharing, needed a deeper understanding of evolving cyber threats, and struggled to put everyday protective measures into practice. A defining feature of the Korean results was a clear gap between awareness of basic security habits and actual protective behavior.
Korean respondents showed a high level of understanding of basic security knowledge, including passwords, app updates, and how malware infections occur. 97% understood how to create a strong password, and South Korea was among the countries with the highest correct-answer rates for that question.
In addition, 71% understood the security benefits of updating apps immediately, and 61% recognized how devices become infected with malware. As a result, Korean respondents posted strong scores in basic security areas.
By contrast, knowledge levels dropped sharply on questions about how to protect privacy in practice. 0% correctly identified all online tools for digital privacy protection, and only 1% correctly answered questions about how to use public Wi-Fi safely and app permissions.
Awareness of everyday protective measures was very low. The biggest knowledge gaps appeared in newer, less visible threat areas, and only 12% of respondents recognized that infostealers can steal sensitive data stored on devices, such as passwords and browser cookies.
The survey also shows users' security awareness and response levels in the areas of AI use and financial security. Only 1% recognized privacy issues to consider when using AI at work, and awareness of AI-related privacy risks was low. Financial security remained a major challenge.
In the financial sector, 67% of respondents said they understood the risks of storing credit card information in a browser. Meanwhile, 51% correctly identified how to respond when they received an unexpected bank email alerting them to a withdrawal. A gap was seen between awareness of the risks of storing card information and the ability to respond to an email warning of an abnormal withdrawal.
In response, NordVPN recommended not reusing the same password across multiple accounts. It also recommended considering the use of a password manager and strengthening security so that an account cannot be accessed with a password alone even if the password is stolen.
NordVPN also recommended encrypting internet connections when using unfamiliar networks such as those at cafes, airports, and hotels, and checking app permissions for access to location, contacts, camera, microphone, and other personal information. It also recommended considering the risks before storing credit card information for future convenient payments.
As security precautions, it advised users not to open suspicious links, to avoid downloading files from unclear sources, and not to share sensitive information with untrusted services.
Marius Bradeeis, NordVPN's CTO, said that identifying obvious threats alone is not enough to ensure digital safety. He noted that recent attacks exploit everyday habits and judgments, such as trust in messages and the storage of sensitive information in browsers. He added that the challenge is not merely recognizing the existence of threats, but understanding how to prevent damage before it occurs.
Source: TECHWORLD · Lee Gwang-jae
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=407332
References
This article was produced with the help of an automated content generation algorithm.
Source: TECHWORLD
View originalThis article was summarized and organized by BizCrush based on the original article from TECHWORLD. For exact quotations and full details, please refer to the original article.