Kaspersky’s internal market research centre surveyed 7,200 respondents worldwide and discovered that 52% of Generation Z participants reported experiencing attacks on their devices, online accounts or personal data.

Among those attacked, 17% said their social media accounts were hacked and 12% lost access to gaming accounts, highlighting the variety of vectors targeting young users.

The study notes a stark contrast between confidence and protection: while 57% of Gen Z say they spend more time online than offline, only 27% use antivirus software on their smartphones.

Regular password changes are also uncommon, and merely 28% of respondents back up important smartphone data, leaving many vulnerable to loss if devices are compromised or damaged.

Kaspersky attributes the gap to a misconception that familiarity with digital tools equates to security expertise, a view expressed by Vice President Irina Ermilova for Consumer Product Management.

To address these weaknesses, Kaspersky recommends integrating basic cybersecurity habits into daily routines, such as installing security software, using strong unique passwords and performing regular data backups.

The company also launched an interactive online game, Case 404, aimed at teaching young users how to spot phishing, scams and account‑takeover attempts through realistic scenarios.