78 Percent of Americans Report Unsafe Behavior Online in New Comcast Cyber Health Report
December 14 2022 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Comcast has Protected Customers from Nearly 10
Billion Cybersecurity Threats Using xFi Advanced Security
Today Comcast released its Xfinity Cyber Health Report that
found that more than three in four Americans (78 percent) report
risky online behaviors that open them up to cyber threats, such as
reusing or sharing passwords, skipping software updates and more –
a 14 percent increase from just two years ago. The report combines
data from a new consumer survey with national threat data collected
by Xfinity’s xFi Advanced Security platform.
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Comcast has Protected Customers from
Nearly 10 Billion Cybersecurity Threats Using xFi Advanced Security
(Photo: Business Wire)
The Xfinity Cyber Report also reveals that xFi Advanced
Security, which is free for Xfinity customers who lease a capable
Xfinity gateway, has blocked nearly 10 billion cybersecurity
threats since it launched less than five years ago.
"This holiday season consumers are purchasing and connecting
more devices to their home networks than ever before,” said Noopur
Davis, EVP, Chief Information Security Officer and Product Privacy
Officer, Comcast. “With this influx of devices comes an influx of
cybersecurity risk. Now more than ever, consumers need to
prioritize keeping their connected devices, and the people who use
them, safe from cyber threats.”
The Xfinity Cyber Health Report analyzes cyber threat trends,
the growing list of devices in connected homes, and a view into
consumers’ attitudes and behaviors around cyber protection. Key
findings include:
- Connected Homes Are Expanding. So is Attack Volume:
Xfinity xFi homes average 15 connected devices, up 25 percent from
2020. Power users average 34 devices. And, 58 percent of consumers
plan to buy at least one connected device this holiday season. xFi
Advanced Security blocks an average of 23 unique threats per home
each month – with the total number of attacks at least
three-to-four times that number, since many attacks are
repeated.
- Consumers Still Underestimate Threats: Nearly three
fourths (74 percent) of Americans believe less than 10 attacks hit
their home network every month. 61 percent believe devices are
protected from threats right out-of-the-box at purchase. This
leaves many new devices open to potential threats without
protection.
- Consumers Unsure They’d Know They’ve Been Hacked: When
asked how soon they would know whether they were a victim of a
cyberattack, only 20 percent said immediately. Another 32 percent
said they aren’t sure they’d ever know if they were a victim of a
cyberattack. And, 51 percent of respondents noted they are not
confident that they would know if a non-screen device was hacked,
such as a robot vacuum or a smart plug.
- Emerging Device Vulnerabilities Misunderstood: Computers
and smartphones remain the top two targeted devices consistent with
findings in 2020. While consumers recognize the risks associated
with these two device types, they underestimate the risk with
emerging devices in their homes. In fact, xFi Advanced Security
blocked threats to smart watches, lighting, thermostats, doorbells,
garage openers, sports and fitness equipment, sprinkler systems and
even cars, drones and pet accessories.
- Generational Cyber Divide: 70 percent of Boomers admit
to unsafe behaviors compared with Gen X (80 percent), Millennials
(82 percent) and Gen Z (87 percent). Gen Z had the lowest awareness
of common threats like phishing and malware. 77 percent of
Millennials are likely to buy a connected device this holiday
season, the most for any segment surveyed.
The 2022 Xfinity Cyber Health Report also includes insights from
Asad Haque, Comcast’s Executive Director of Security Architecture,
regarding connected home security with Matter and xPKI; a primer on
Comcast’s threat analytics platform from David White, Vice
President, Security Engineering at Comcast; the role of Comcast’s
xGitGuardTM software in data privacy from Bahman Rashidi, Ph.D.,
Director, Cybersecurity & Privacy Engineering Research; and
actionable tips for consumers on securing their connected home.
As the largest broadband provider in the U.S. serving more than
32 million internet customer households, Comcast’s xFi Advanced
Security service protects home networks from cyber threats and is
free to all internet customers with the xFi Gateway who sign in
through the Xfinity app. It uses artificial intelligence and
machine learning technology to monitor, analyze and block
suspicious activity in real-time. To date, xFi Advanced Security
has blocked nearly 10 billion cybersecurity threats. To activate
this service, Xfinity xFi customers can log onto the Xfinity app
and enable xFi Advanced Security.
About the Survey The survey, conducted by Wakefield
Research, polled 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages
18 and older in November 2022, using an email invitation and an
online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling
variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is
affected by the number of interviews and the level of the
percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in
this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey
result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage
points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had
been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the
sample.
To download the 2022 Xfinity Cyber health Report, go to
https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/cyber-health-report-2022.
About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:
CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects
people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on
connectivity, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer
relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver
broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast
Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading
entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed
Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC
and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock,
NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and
provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the
United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more
information.
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Joel Shadle Joel_Shadle@comcast.com 215-286-4675
Rachel Zabinski Rachel_Zabinski@comcast.com 215-286-1516
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