The IT Nerd

The internet has become an indispensable part of our lives, transforming how we communicate and access information. As we look ahead, the internet’s influence is set to surge even further.

According to estimations by the Atlas VPN team, the number of internet users is projected to surpass 6 billion within the next five years.

As of 2023, there are approximately 5.16 billion internet users globally, accounting for 64.4% of the world’s population. By 2028, this number is expected to rise by nearly a fifth (19%) and reach 6.13 billion. 

These estimations are based on historic internet user data provided by DataReportal.

Internet user numbers and penetration rates vary widely around the globe. Developed countries typically boast internet penetration rates of over 80%, while those with less advanced cyberspace can hover below 50%. Surprisingly, the top 20 countries alone account for a staggering 3.67 billion internet users, representing 71% of the world’s total. 

China currently leads the world in terms of the largest internet user population, with 1.05 billion users, comprising over 20% of the total global internet users. Overall,73.7% of China’s population has internet access.

India, the second most populous country as of January 2023, holds the second spot on the list with 692 million internet users. However, only about 48.7% of India’s population has internet access, ranking it below the world’s average. In fact, India has the highest number of unconnected people worldwide, with over 730 million individuals lacking internet access.’

Next on the list is the United States (US), with 311.3 million internet users, which translates to approximately 91.8% of its population having internet access.

The US is followed by Indonesia and Brazil, with 212.9 million and 181.8 million internet users, respectively. 77% of Indonesia’s population has internet access, while Brazil’s rate is slightly higher at 84.3%. Brazilians also rank second in terms of time spent online.

Other countries in the top ten include Russia (127.6 million), Nigeria (122.5 million), Japan (102.5 million), Mexico (100.6 million), and the Philippines (85.16 million).

The digital future

As the number of internet users continues to climb steadily and technology evolves exponentially, the digital landscape is poised for profound transformations, ushering in new opportunities and challenges that will shape the future of our interconnected world.

As the number of internet users grows, so do the risks associated with data privacy and cybersecurity. Cyber threats, data breaches, and identity theft are increasingly prevalent in a hyper-connected world. 

Not surprisingly, most Americans regard cyberterrorism as the most pressing danger to the United States, according to a Gallup poll on world affairs.

To read the full article, head over to:https://atlasvpn.com/blog/internet-users-are-estimated-to-reach-6-billion-in-the-next-5-years 

According to a Gallup poll on world affairs, cyberterrorism is regarded by a majority of Americans as the most pressing danger to the United States. A staggering 85% of respondents identified it as a “critical threat,” surpassing all other concerns, the Atlas VPN team found.

Results are based on telephone interviews conducted February 1-23, 2023, with a random sample of 1,008 adults, ages 18+, living in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia. The margin of sampling error is ±4 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Consensus on the severity of the cyberterrorism threat spanned across political affiliations, with both Democrats and Republicans rating it as a critical threat at a rate of 86%. Among Independents, 79% expressed similar concerns.

Gallup’s Mohamad Younis observed that since 2021, American citizens consistently perceive cyberterrorism as the foremost critical threat to vital U.S. security interests. Prior to that, international terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons by Iran and North Korea were the primary concerns. However, worry regarding these issues has declined over the past decade.

The Department of Defense also shares apprehensions about cyberterrorism. In a 2022 report, the department highlighted the significant threat posed not only by state actors like China and Russia but also by independent criminal organizations.

Mieke Eoyang, the deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, commented on the evolving landscape, stating that the capabilities once exclusive to state actors are now available for purchase on the dark web due to the emergence of non-state actors in the criminal cyber market.

Development of nuclear weapons remains concerning

The poll also revealed that respondents almost equally viewed North Korea and Iran’s development of nuclear weapons as the second most critical threat, with Iran marginally higher at 74%. Concerns about the nuclear capabilities of these two countries have consistently ranked high on the threat list, although this year’s responses fell about 10% short of previous record highs.

The survey unveiled notable shifts in public opinion regarding the military power of China, immigration, and climate change. Political biases became apparent as Republicans were more likely to consider China and immigration as critical threats, while Democrats perceived climate change as a greater concern.

The most significant disparity between political parties was observed in the areas of immigration and climate change. Immigration was regarded as a critical threat by 84% of Republicans compared to only 20% of Democrats. Conversely, climate change was deemed a critical threat by 85% of Democrats but only 21% of Republicans.

Parties agree on the importance of cybersecurity 

In contrast to other policy matters, cybersecurity has emerged as one of the few areas where lawmakers from both parties are actively investing and prioritizing.

On March 21, 2023, a bipartisan duo of senators introduced two bills designed to bolster the US cyber workforce and enhance the federal government’s ability to combat cyber threats.

The primary objective of these programs is to ensure that the government possesses the necessary cyber expertise to effectively “defeat, deter, or respond to malicious cyber activity,” as stated in a press release.

Since 2022, lawmakers have introduced and successfully passed several other bipartisan bills addressing cybersecurity concerns, particularly those aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure such as the healthcare and energy sectors.

To read the full article, head over to:
https://atlasvpn.com/blog/gallup-poll-americans-fear-cyberterrorism-more-than-nuclear-war

A new year brings a new wave of cyber incidents for the crypto sphere. According to the analysis by the Atlas VPN team, various crypto projects and their clients lost a whopping $666,354,302 to 125 cyberattacks in the first half of 2023.  

Nevertheless, compared to the same period last year, crypto-related cyber incidents and losses are declining.  

The Binance Smart Chain (BSC) ecosystem experienced the highest number of incidents, totaling 30, resulting in losses of $25,137,913. Meanwhile, the Ethereum (ETH) ecosystem faced the most significant financial losses, with hackers plundering $265,237,633 from multiple Ethereum-related projects in 29 separate incidents. 

Following closely in terms of losses is the Polygon ecosystem, which endured $122,685,000 in damages caused by only four cyber attacks. Additionally, various crypto wallets suffered losses of $109,200,000. 

In total, 22% of cases were a result of malicious actors exploiting contract vulnerabilities. Furthermore, 14% of the incidents involved social media hacks that were subsequently utilized for social engineering attacks, ultimately leading to the extraction of funds from unsuspecting victims. 

Crypto scams rob holders of nearly $250 million

It is not just the hackers who are to blame for the theft of crypto funds. Sometimes it is the crypto projects themselves. 

In the first half of this year, fraudsters swindled a staggering $248,769,543 from crypto enthusiasts. During the initial quarter, victims lost $9,355,832 to crypto scams, while the losses skyrocketed by 2,459% and reached $239,413,711 in the second quarter. 

Cryptocurrency-related cybercrime is highly appealing to thieves because cryptocurrency payments lack legal protections or government assurances, while chances of recovering lost funds are nearly nonexistent.  

Choosing crypto services carefully, avoiding too-good-to-be-true offers and get-rich-quick schemes, and refraining from responding to unsolicited investment proposals or prompts to log into your crypto wallet and similar communications are just some of the measures that can help people avoid falling victim to crypto-related cyberattacks and scams. 

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/cybercriminals-loot-over-600-million-from-crypto-projects-in-h1-2023

Web browsers serve as our virtual entryway in the vast landscape of the digital world, allowing us to explore the internet easily.

According to the calculations by the Atlas VPN team, the Microsoft Edge browser is closing in on a total of 300 million users. The browser’s number of users grew by 50 million months after ChatGPT was implemented. Despite that, Google Chrome and Safari continue to dominate the browser market share.

Google Chrome has nearly 3.4 billion users and stands firmly as the most popular browser. Chrome’s success is due to its strong features, user-friendly interface, and seamless integration with Google services.

Apple’s Safari browser reached over 1 billion users last year and this year continued to grow to 1.1 billion users. Since April 2022, the Opera browser has grown its user number by 40%, from 109 million to 152 million users.

Firefox’s browser user number stands at about 150 million. Samsung Internet browser has a user base of nearly 135 million people.

​​Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on browser market share:

“The growth of Microsoft Edge has sparked a wave of innovation among its competitors. A notable example is Google’s integration of its Bard AI into Chrome, a clear response to Edge’s success. Such a competitive environment promises a bright future for web browsing.”

To read the full article, head over to:

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/microsoft-edge-hits-nearly-300m-users-after-chatgpt-integration

Atlas VPN discovered a recently released and first-of-its-kind survey revealing that 42% of executives or their family members experienced a cyberattack, the consequences of which were as severe as a data breach of the whole company. 

In May 2023, a research report jointly conducted by BlackCloak and the Ponemon Institute showed an increasing severity of cyber attacks on executives’ digital lives. However, the majority of companies lack the preparedness to prevent or mitigate the potential damage inflicted upon their organizations.

Surveying more than 500 cybersecurity professionals from various industries, the study found that 42% of companies had already encountered cybercriminal attacks targeting executives or their families, leading to severe negative consequences. 

These consequences encompassed the loss of customers or business partners (66%), theft of sensitive financial data (47%), theft of valuable corporate assets like intellectual property (36%), reputation damage (33%), loss of customer or employee data (27%), business strategies (24%), or research and development data (18%).

Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman and Founder of the Ponemon Institute, was most concerned that 62% of organizations lack a dedicated team to prevent or respond to cyber attacks on executives and their families. 

Furthermore, 79% of respondents believe that future cyber attacks on these executives are likely, highlighting the urgency of addressing this problem rather than ignoring it.

Dr. Chris Pierson, CEO and Founder of BlackCloak, emphasized that the study’s findings align with the firsthand experiences of their team in discussions with senior cybersecurity leaders. 

Corporations are ill-prepared to confront cyber threats targeting executives’ private lives. Astonishingly, only 9% of cybersecurity professionals expressed high confidence in their CEO or executives’ ability to protect their personal computers from viruses, and merely 22% were confident in leaders securing their personal emails. 

This paints a bleak picture of the digital security hygiene of company executives.

Types of threats targeting leaders

Researchers have observed a diverse range of cybercriminal threats actively targeting executives’ personal digital lives. 

Most commonly, hackers are able to expose the home address, personal cell, and personal email of executives, with 57% of respondents having experienced this within the last two years. 

Other threats experienced include malware infections on personal or family devices (56%), email compromise (42%), online impersonation (34%), ransomware (31%), and even physical attacks like swatting (25%).

To read the full article, head over to: 

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/42-of-executives-suffered-from-a-serious-cyberattack-within-the-last-2-years

According to recent findings by Atlas VPN, government requests for user data from Meta are on the rise.

In 2022, Meta received 476,802 user data requests from governments worldwide. A total of 827,927 user data records were requested by governments, marking a significant growth of 16% compared to 2021 and a whopping 971% rise since 2013.

Meta disclosed at least some data in response to 76.45% of all requests. Since 2013, Meta received a total of 2,247,594 government requests concerning 3,629,299 user accounts.

The numbers are derived from the Meta transparency report, which features the government requests for user data since 2013.

Countries where governments requested user data the most

In 2022, Meta received user data requests from governments in over 130 countries. However, the distribution of requests varied, with certain countries submitting more requests than others.

The United States government leads the way in terms of both the number of requests and the volume of user data requested. In 2022, Meta received data requests from the US government concerning 236,928 platform users, representing a 10% increase compared to the previous year. That equates to approximately 70.04 requests per 100,000 people.

In 2022 alone, the US government placed 133,511 user data requests to Meta, with the company at least partially complying with 88.07% of these requests.

Germany ranks second with 62.11 account requests per 100,000 people. The German government filed requests for 51,783 Meta user accounts in 2022, placing the country in the fourth spot in terms of the total number of government requests received.

Meanwhile, Israel occupies the third spot on the list with 60.50 accounts requested per 100,000 people, just ahead of Brazil.

India also stands out regarding the sheer volume of account requests, as the country’s government submitted 119,349 requests pertaining to 198,015 Meta user accounts in 2022 — a 32% rise from the previous year. However, the request count per 100,000 population amounts to a relatively lower figure of 13.97.

To read the full article, head over to: 

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/meta-received-over-800k-user-data-requests-from-governments-in-2022

Among the myriad of tactics employed by cybercriminals, phishing emails continue to reign as one of the most prevalent and effective methods for breaching personal and organizational security.

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, 27% of phishing emails targeting C-Suite employees are sent out on Mondays. While the statistics are based on C-Suite, they should reflect similarly to the general public. Furthermore, the most common payloads attached to phishing emails are hyperlinks or attachments carrying malware.

For a lot of people, Mondays are busy and stressful. As the workweek starts, inboxes get filled with new messages, deadlines, and essential tasks that must be addressed immediately.

Saturdays are the second favorite day for cybercriminals, as one out of five (19%) phishing emails come on this day. Fridays (14%), Tuesdays (13%), and Thursdays (12%) are the next most common days for phishing emails to arrive at your door.

You are the least likely to receive a phishing email on Wednesdays (9%) and Sundays (6%).

​​Cybersecurity writer at Atlas VPN, Vilius Kardelis, shares his thoughts on phishing attacks:

“Individuals and organizations must take a proactive approach to strengthen their defenses against the evolving and sophisticated landscape of phishing attacks. Ongoing education on robust security measures and promoting a culture of skepticism are necessary to combat the constant and widespread threat of phishing attacks effectively.”

Payloads in phishing attacks

Although we have analyzed the frequency of phishing emails on different workdays, it’s crucial to investigate cybercriminals’ methods to execute their harmful intentions.

Phishing hyperlinks made up 38% of all payloads delivered in phishing attacks sent from compromised accounts. Phishing hyperlinks exploit people’s trust in familiar websites by tricking them into visiting fake ones.

Attachments including malware accounted for 35% of payloads delivered in phishing attacks. Financial payloads made up 16% of phishing attacks sent from compromised accounts. Lastly, phishing attacks using pure social engineering tactics with no payload accounted for 11%.

To read the full article, head over to:

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/you-are-most-likely-to-get-a-phishing-email-on-monday

From 2020 to 2022, Apple has rejected 958,000 applications from appearing on the App Store due to privacy violations, recent findings by Atlas VPN reveal.  

Apple has shared three annual reports on App Store fraud prevention since 2020, detailing how many fraudulent transactions they stopped, how many apps were rejected, user and developer accounts terminated, and similar data. 

Here, Atlas VPN analyzes all three of those reports in a single article to find trends and get a broader view of Apple’s App Store moderation efforts. 

One of the outliers in the year-over-year fraud prevention data is the number of apps rejected for privacy violations. 

The number of applications rejected due to privacy issues keeps increasing exponentially, from 215,000 rejections in 2020 to 400,000 in 2022. 

User privacy is a major concern, as there have been instances where apps collect more data than necessary or share it with third parties without proper disclosure or user consent. 

Many users may not fully understand the privacy implications of using certain apps or may not pay close attention to the permissions they grant when installing an app and unknowingly grant access to sensitive information.

To address these concerns, Apple has implemented various measures to protect user privacy, including app review guidelines, privacy labels, and app tracking transparency features. 

Apple stopped $5 billion in fraudulent transactions

One of the main focal points of Apple’s fraud prevention strategy is stopping fraudulent transactions. 

Since 2020, Apple has prevented over $5.09 billion in potentially fraudulent payments and blocked 10.2 stolen credit cards from transacting.

“Apple takes credit card fraud extremely seriously, and remains committed to protecting the App Store and its users from this kind of stress.” Apple states in their annual report. 

Apple touts security to avoid third-party stores

One angle worth considering as to why Apple began releasing its fraud-prevention reports is to indirectly stand against the constant pressure to open up iPhones and iPads to third-party app stores. 

One of the main arguing points by Tim Cook as to why sideloading and third-party app stores should not be allowed is privacy issues: “data-hungry companies would be able to avoid our privacy rules, and once again track our users against their will,” he worryingly stated in IAPP conference in Washington, D.C. last year. 

Apple’s stance on third-party app stores has faced criticism and scrutiny from developers and regulators who argue that it limits competition and innovation. 

The App Store is a significant revenue source for Apple, as they take a 30% commission on most app purchases and in-app transactions. Allowing third-party app stores could potentially disrupt this financial model and revenue stream.

To read the full article, head over to: 

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/nearly-1-000-000-apps-rejected-from-apple-app-store-for-privacy-violations

Ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through Instagram, refreshing your Twitter feed, or getting lost in the latest Facebook updates? 

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, an average internet user now spends 144 minutes (2 hours and 24 minutes) on social media. 

This translates to an astonishing 876 hours or approximately 36.5 days per year. 

These figures are derived from data provided by DataReportal. The data is based on a survey with internet users aged 16 to 64 about their social media usage habits. 

Emerging markets exhibit longer social media use. Despite only 14.3% of Nigeria‘s population being active social media users, individuals in the country devote an average of 238 minutes (equivalent to 3 hours and 58 minutes) of their daily time to social media, surpassing users in other countries examined in the study. Internet users in Ghana are not far behind, with 235 minutes (3 hours and 55 minutes) of daily social media usage. 

Brazil occupies the third spot on the list. People there spend 224 minutes (3 hours and 44 minutes) on social media daily. However, the country ranks number one in the number of social media platforms used each month, with the country’s internet users actively engaging with 8.1 social networks monthly.

Meanwhile, people in the US spend 135 minutes (2 hours 15 minutes) connected to social media daily. 

In contrast, people in Japan allocate only 50 minutes of their daily time to social media — the least of all surveyed countries. Neighbors in South Korea are also not keen on spending time on social media, with 66 minutes (1 hour and 6 minutes) devoted to it on a daily basis. Both countries also rank in the bottom five based on the overall time spent on the internet. The internet usage trends in Japan and South Korea could be influenced by its aging population.

The primary purpose for most individuals using social media is to keep in touch with friends and family, with almost half (48.2%) considering it their main activity.

Another significant motive for social media usage is to fill spare time, with 36.8% of people indicating it as a reason. Meanwhile, 34.5% employ social media platforms to stay updated on news stories.

To read the full article, head over to: https://atlasvpn.com/blog/time-people-spend-on-social-media

Current data from Google Trends reveals that public interest in cybersecurity and careers in the field has grown significantly since the beginning of 2022 and reached an all-time high in May 2023.

Media coverage of cyber incidents, data breaches, and privacy violations has raised public consciousness about the importance of cybersecurity. People are becoming increasingly aware of the potential consequences of cyber threats. 

This increased awareness has fueled a desire to protect personal and organizational data, hence growing interest in cybersecurity careers. 

The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals has driven up the salaries in the field.

In turn, Google search interest for keywords ‘cybersecurity,’ ‘cybersecurity salary,’ and ‘cybersecurity jobs’ hit an all-time in May 2023, according to Atlas VPN findings. 

The global search volume figures show that interest in cybersecurity and jobs in the field has been steadily growing since the second half of 2015. 

However, a significant uptick in attention toward digital security and employment opportunities can be seen in Q1 2022, which continued until the end of the year, likely caused by remote work, media attention, and a rise in cyber attacks. 

The Google search popularity for keywords ‘cybersecurity salary’ and ‘cybersecurity’ jumped to 97 in September and October of 2022 and then declined to around 70 in December.

Since the start of this year, the search volume for ‘cybersecurity’ and ‘cybersecurity salary’ has hovered at around 90, and about 80 for the keyword ‘cybersecurity jobs’. 

However, in May 2023, the popularity of all three keywords quickly reached a relative interest of 100.

Causes for the record popularity could be multiple, including significant recent cybersecurity incidents, newly released influential industry reports, the favorable job market for cybersecurity professionals, and new government initiatives and regulations. 

Atmosphere of cybersecurity careers 

On top of attractive pay, cybersecurity is seen as one of the most stable careers for the foreseeable future. 

With the continuous evolution of technology and the ongoing need for protection against cyber threats, cybersecurity professionals can expect long-term job security and a variety of career advancement prospects.

At the same time, cybersecurity is a dynamic and multidisciplinary field that requires constant learning and adaptation. 

To read the full article, head over to: 

https://atlasvpn.com/blog/interest-in-cybersecurity-and-career-opportunities-surge-in-may-2023