Application security

70% of Brits don’t think email is a potential cyber-threat

Over two thirds (69 percent) of British respondents to a recent survey are unaware that they could be vulnerable to cyber-attack simply by opening an email. Almost half admit that they open non-work related or personal emails while at work.

An approach such as this means they are “misunderstanding the fundamentals of computer safety,” according to Mailjet.

The latest research by Mailjet also shows that 18 percent of Brits would open an email with a swear word in the subject line and 10 percent admit to having opened an email that clearly stated nudity is contained in the contents. Nearly 20 percent advised that they were aware they were opening emails containing images of an attractive man or woman.

Research revealed that despite being at work, British respondents are more likely to risk their jobs and open an email that would contain a subject line such as“Kim Kardashian as you've never seen her before!” as opposed to one about Kate Middleton. Only four percent said that they would download emails of the future British queen.

Amir Jirbandey, inbound marketing lead at Mailjet says, “It may sound simple, but the general lack of education surrounding emails is one of the biggest threats to cyber-security. The fact that almost 70 percent of us do not see emails as a threat to computer security is staggering, and what this research has emphasised is the need for both consumers and businesses to sit up and understand the need to prioritise basic email safety”.

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