According to research carried out by online security firm ESET, more than 68 percent of UK social media users have taken steps to improve their online security and have gone through the various methods to ensure their accounts don't fall victim to some type of cyberattack. This includes creating a stronger password and not using the same password across different social media accounts.
This move has been prompted by a number of high profile breaches, such as when Mark Zuckerberg had his Facebook and Pinterest accounts hacked.
The hackers were able to access the Facebook founder's account because he had re-used an old password. They said they found his details in a database of 117 million passwords hacked from social network LinkedIn in 2012.
#ICYMI connecting #SocialMedia profiles could lead to #hacking and #cybercrimehttps://t.co/vWonCbevBY pic.twitter.com/Be1nOECpX9
— ESET (@ESETUK) 17 October 2016
Zuckerberg was not the only one to suffer at the hands of a cyberattack.
Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter also suffered a similar fate, when his Twitter and Vine accounts were hacked into.
These high-profile cyberattacks have led to UK social media users upping their game and ensuring their own accounts are up to scratch when it comes to security.
75 percent of those who were surveyed said that they believed privacy on social media was far more important than being popular.
The Most Important Ways to Protect Your Privacy on #Facebook [Infographic] https://t.co/MGcUEralj4 pic.twitter.com/659XvnyWl1
— Social Media Today (@socialmedia2day) October 25, 2016
81 percent confirmed that they do not use passwords that were related to their personal lives, for example birthdays or anniversary dates.
The research also highlighted a gender divide, with women being more puzzled about importance of privacy — only 29 percent had never taken any steps to improve their privacy versus the 36 percent of men who had never considered their online security.
Mark James, a security specialist from ESET said the findings from their research only go to prove that social media users in the UK are finally waking up to the dangers that exist online.
"Users are finally grasping that they are indeed responsible for their own security… A few changes to their security options and understanding that just because someone has a familiar digital persona does not mean they are who they say they are, is finally making people sit up and take notice. With so many data breaches happening almost on a daily basis it's good to see this change in user perception," Mr. James told Sputnik.
"For so long it seems to be someone else's problem, users are realizing they can indeed do something to make their digital journey safer and usually, with very little fuss, as more and more of our data becomes publicly available people will increase their security through this awareness," he added.
However, despite the fact that many people are actually getting it right, there are many people who are still putting their data at risk. ESET advise that you must start taking online security more seriously now, before its too late.
