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May 12, 2024

Albania mixed bag in citizen cyber awareness amid ongoing cyber attacks

By Alice Taylor | Exit.al 25-08-2023 (updated: 25-08-2023 ) News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The annual

By Alice Taylor | Exit.al

25-08-2023 (updated: 25-08-2023 )

News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

The annual National Privacy Test (NPT) is a global survey by NordVPN to evaluate people’s cybersecurity and online privacy awareness in the digital age. It gathered 26,174 responses from 175 countries this year. [Shutterstock/Song_about_summer]

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As awareness of online privacy and cybersecurity is decreasing worldwide, Albanians rank highly in recognising online risks and knowing how to avoid them while coming last in terms of best practices to ensure safety online.

The annual National Privacy Test (NPT) is a global survey by NordVPN to evaluate people’s cybersecurity and online privacy awareness in the digital age. It gathered 26,174 responses from 175 countries this year.

“With the growing complexity of online threats, it is not surprising that the world’s online privacy and cybersecurity awareness has declined. Paradoxically, the more security solutions there are, the worse the results get every year. Raising awareness about the potential risks and educating users about best practices should be at the forefront of our efforts,” says Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN.

In Albania, citizens know how to create strong passwords (likely due to the uniqueness and complexity of the language) and deal with suspicious streaming sites, but they also know what kind of data not to share on social media. In addition, they are aware of the risk of using the same passwords for several accounts and instead opt for unique ones for each platform.

While in these areas, over 78% of citizens knew what they were doing, when it comes to tools to enhance digital privacy, only 3% had any knowledge. Additionally, only 13% knew what data is collected by internet service providers, and just 34% understood the importance of reading the terms and conditions for applications and online services.

Globally, threats against online security and data privacy are increasing exponentially, but awareness is decreasing. The report found that just 61% of those surveyed had good knowledge and understanding of internet privacy, compared to 64% in 2022 and 66% in 2021.

“I think there are a few reasons why cybersecurity knowledge is declining globally. The first and most important one might be the sheer volume of online activities and digital interactions that people engage in daily. Our previous research showed that people spend more than 27 years of their lifetime online. Secondly, as technology advances, cybercriminals adapt their tactics, making it challenging for the average user to keep up. Also, there is a common misconception that cybersecurity is solely the responsibility of service providers,“ says Briedis.

This comes as Albania has experienced a number of privacy-related issues.

Over the last week, it was revealed there was a possible breach of the Total Information Management System (TIMS) system that collects data to assist with border control, case management, criminal investigation, intelligence, and analysis.

It is reported that the US Embassy in Tirana requested an investigation into an alleged data breach, as some of those impacted are US citizens. Acting Charge d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Tirana, Martin McDowell, met with Interior Minister Taulant Balla last week, expressing concern but also offering assistance in dealing with the problem.

“Acting Officer McDowell noted US concerns regarding reported intrusion into State Police TIMS systems. He urged a quick and comprehensive investigation and emphasised the importance of protecting personal/sensitive data, including that of American citizens in Albania,” a US Embassy statement said.

On Tuesday, the Police Surveillance Agency reported the situation to the Prosecutor’s Office in Tirana, with suspicions of interference in the system. According to sources, the report includes suspicions of abuse of power and unauthorised intervention in computer systems.

This comes after several hacks and data breaches in 2022 after Iranian hackers accessed government digital infrastructure, bringing the system to a standstill and resulting in the publication of sensitive data, including government and diplomatic communications.

The attacks saw diplomatic ties severed with Iran and the closure of the embassy in Tirana as well as the expulsion of all diplomatic staff.

(Alice Taylor | EURACTIV.com)

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