Parents warned on cyber bullying
Internet security company ESET Ireland, which commissioned the survey, said the results of a survey focusing just on teenagers would have given “even scarier” results.
The survey of 1,018 individuals of all age groups by Amárach research found that 5% admitted to being targeted online with harsh words and threats.
ESET’s IT security and cybercrime analyst, Urban Schrott, said the results should be worrying for parents and teachers across Ireland.
He said that, over a year ago, ESET asked Irish parents if they left their children unauthorised online.
“With up to 73% of children being left unsupervised, we find this very concerning, since Ireland has had some very publicised experience with cyber bullying,” said Mr Schrott.
The survey also reveals one in five people have had a laptop, smartphone, or tablet stolen.
About one in seven had their credit card abused, their emails or social media account hacked, or have fallen victim to an online scam.
One in 25 people (4%) have had their identify stolen online.
Mr Schrott said he thought that about half of the 3m estimated internet users in Ireland had a distressing experience.
One in 11 (9%) had found that friends or family members had unauthorised access to their emails and social media.
“While usually only used to embarrass the victim and not for serious cyber crime, if it occurs with malicious intent among children, it can also be classified as, or lead to, cyber bullying,” he said.
Mr Schrott said that anti-theft and anti-scam technology could counter online threats but it could not replace common sense and parental responsibility.
“Online security is more than just installing an anti-virus and a fire wall,” said Mr Schrott.
“It is also knowing about threats and staying informed, as well as acting responsibly when using computers, smart phones and other devices.
“As can be seen from the statistics, threats come in many shapes and forms and some can also have terrible consequences.”
