{"id":26269,"date":"2025-02-13T13:23:02","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T13:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/?p=26269"},"modified":"2025-02-13T13:23:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-13T13:23:55","slug":"cybersecurity-threats-are-mounting-but-its-gen-zs-and-alphas-who-are-introducing-risks-not-older-folks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techandbiz.com.ng\/tab-backup\/2025\/02\/13\/cybersecurity-threats-are-mounting-but-its-gen-zs-and-alphas-who-are-introducing-risks-not-older-folks\/","title":{"rendered":"Cybersecurity threats are mounting, but it\u2019s Gen Zs and Alphas who are introducing risks – not \u201colder folks\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Anna Collard, SVP Content Strategy & Evangelist at KnowBe4 Africa (www.KnowBe4.com<\/a>)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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With growing cybersecurity concerns top of mind for many organisations this year, recognising the varying approaches that different generations have to digital safety is an important component of effective security cultures. Even though younger generations grew up in a hyperconnected world, their overconfidence and lax approach to cybersecurity precautions are potentially putting organisations at great risk.<\/p>\n

According to a 2022-survey by Ernst & Young (EY) (https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3Q4Wnbx<\/a><\/span>)<\/span>,\u00a0almost half of Gen Z respondents (48%) say they take cybersecurity protection on their personal devices more seriously than on their work devices.<\/span>\u202fThe same survey found that Gen Z workers are far more likely than older employees to use the same password for professional and personal accounts and to ignore important IT updates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Gen Alpha (born after 2013)<\/span>\u00a0(https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3XbQeOX<\/a><\/span>) have grown up on a steady diet of tablets, smartphones<\/span>, and social media, their vast exposure to the digital world – and the confidence it\u2019s brought about – makes them increasingly susceptible to cyber threats, particularly in the face of AI-powered attacks.<\/p>\n

This vulnerability is evident from the fact that 72% admit to clicking on suspicious links at work (https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3CEoWtc<\/a><\/span>)<\/span>, a figure that is far higher than that among older generations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gen Z\u2019s elevated risk profile\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike millennials and older generations, Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up in a fully connected world. Their awareness of technology is instinctive rather than learned – but this has both negative and positive side effects.<\/p>\n

On the plus side, they may instinctively understand certain risks, but paradoxically are therefore less concerned about them, such as when it comes to sharing personal information. These younger adults exhibit a classic case of the Dunning-Kruger effect (https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3Ej2XIL<\/a><\/span>)<\/span>: they overestimate their cybersecurity knowledge, while lacking the overall competence needed to recognise that they are, in fact, not proficient. This may make them resistant to training from older generations<\/span>, whom they feel know less about technology than they do.<\/p>\n

Because they\u2019re more comfortable sending messages via social media, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are, for instance, more vulnerable to phishing emails. The EY survey found that despite being digital natives, only 31% of Gen Z-respondents actually feel confident in identifying phishing emails (https:\/\/apo-opa.co\/3CEoWtc<\/a><\/span>)<\/span>. In addition, their love of media-multitasking makes them more distracted and therefore more susceptible to social engineering threats.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another risk is that younger employees tend to mix personal and work devices, increasing organisations\u2019 exposure to security vulnerabilities. Moreover, digital-first employees may resist traditional security systems at work, viewing them as inefficient or unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key differences relating to cybersecurity to be aware of among various generations in the workplace are:<\/p>\n