Switzerland, Jan 29: Acronis, a global leader in cybersecurity and data protection, has released its inaugural Data Privacy in 2025 report, highlighting global consumer attitudes towards cyber risks and data protection practices. Launched to mark Data Privacy Day, the survey reveals critical gaps between awareness and action in personal cybersecurity.
The findings show that sixty-four per cent of respondents identified data breaches as their top privacy concern. Despite growing awareness of cyber risks, many individuals fail to adopt basic measures to protect themselves from digital threats.
The survey found that while two-thirds of respondents back up their data regularly, nine per cent do not back up their data at all, and four per cent remain unaware of what backing up entails. Password practices remain inconsistent, with sixty-eight per cent of participants using strong, unique passwords, but fewer than half employing two-factor authentication, an essential tool for preventing breaches.
Mobile security practices also lag behind. Only forty-three per cent of respondents reported using mobile security apps, while thirty-five per cent were unfamiliar with such tools. Additionally, nearly seventy per cent admitted to using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities, despite over sixty per cent rating data security as “very important”.
The survey highlighted key barriers to adopting better cybersecurity measures, with nearly thirty per cent finding security tools too complex and twenty-five per cent citing high costs as a deterrent. Younger participants, under the age of thirty-five, reported higher rates of breaches compared to older demographics, likely due to riskier digital habits.
Encouragingly, the report found that video-based cybersecurity education is gaining popularity, with forty-four per cent of respondents turning to online videos to learn best practices.
“This survey highlights a critical paradox in modern cybersecurity – individuals are increasingly aware of the risks, yet many still lack the tools or knowledge to protect themselves effectively,” said Gerald Beuchelt, CISO at Acronis.
Acronis President Gaidar Magdanurov added, “While many people are rightly concerned about how organisations handle their data, individuals also play a crucial role in protecting themselves.”
The report calls for more accessible cybersecurity solutions and education to bridge the gap between awareness and action. Acronis is urging individuals to adopt basic practices, including regular data backups, enabling two-factor authentication, and using mobile security tools to safeguard their personal information.
The Data Privacy in 2025 survey gathered responses from 2,480 global consumers aged 18 to 64.
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