Despite Prevalence of Online Threats, Users Aren't Changing Behavior

Consumer Reports’ latest Consumer Cyber Readiness Report finds that while awareness of cyber risks is high, adoption of protective measures remains modest: only 28% use identity theft protection, 54% have anti-malware software (down from 56% in 2023), and 42% report having a firewall with 26% unsure. Update hygiene improved slightly, with 71% applying updates promptly, but only 10% use encryption software; about a third use VPNs, and many are uncertain about privacy tools like tracker-blocking extensions. The findings, based on a survey of ~4,000 respondents, highlight persistent gaps between awareness and action in consumer cybersecurity.