81 per cent of Canadians fear for their personal information if Canadian government is hacked

OTTAWA, June 20, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) released Canada's Internet Factbook today, which includes statistics about Canada's internet and Canadians' online habits, perceptions and experiences. This includes worries around the security of private information, with 81 per cent of Canadians expressing concern about the security of their personal information held by a government department in the event of a cyberattack.

Also included in Canada's Internet Factbook are statistics around the amount of time Canadians spend online, their online purchasing habits, awareness of cybersecurity threats, social media preferences, experiences with online harassment and accessing online subscription services versus pirated content.

Canada's Internet Factbook is developed annually, primarily through CIRA research, which was gathered through an online survey conducted in March 2018.

Key Facts

• 74 per cent of Canadians spend at least 3-4 hours online per day.
• 52 per cent of Canadians have five or more internet-connected devices in their home.
• The use of a mobile device to make an online purchase has increased to 40 per cent in 2018 from just 12 per cent in 2014.
• 77 per cent of Canadians are concerned about cyberattacks against organizations that may have access to their personal information.
• 81 per cent of Canadians are concerned about the security of their personal information held by a government department in the event of a cyberattack.
• 78 per cent of Canadians say they often or sometimes come across fake news online and only 20 per cent say they are very confident they know how to identify it.
• 27 per cent of Canadians who use Facebook and Twitter indicate they don't feel safe from cyberbullying on these platforms and more women than men have been reluctant to participate in social media/online discussions because of online harassment.
• 55 per cent of Canadian parents monitor some of their children's online activity and 37 per cent monitor all of it.

Executive quotes
"Over three quarters of Canadians are concerned about cyberattacks against organizations that may have access to their personal information," says Byron Holland, president and CEO of CIRA. "As more services become web-based, organizations have a growing responsibility to secure their systems from cyber threats and protect the personal information of Canadians. This makes understanding Canada's internet, how Canadians use it and how it can be improved, all the more important."

"Nearly 70 per cent of Canadians are concerned about the security and privacy of their personal information and data on the internet if stored or routed through the U.S.," says Jacques Latour, chief technology officer with CIRA. "Once your data crosses the border, it's open to U.S. surveillance. Data sovereignty, created in part by Canadian internet exchange points, is a viable solution ? and our research shows most Canadians want more investment in Canadian internet infrastructure."

"Mobile devices are becoming a popular choice for Canadians to get online to shop," says David Fowler, vice president of marketing and communications with CIRA. "In 2014 just 12 per cent of Canadians said they'd used a mobile device to shop online. That number jumped to 40 per cent this year. This kind of information is vital for Canadian businesses who provide products and services through the internet."

Additional resources
Canada's Internet Factbook can be accessed online at internetfactbook.ca.

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) manages the .CA top-level domain on behalf of all Canadians. A Member-based organization, CIRA also develops and implements policies that support Canada's Internet community, and represents the .CA registry internationally.

SOURCE Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)