Only 2 in 10 Singaporeans are vigilant against online risks

But 78% of them are experiencing online threats.

According to the annual Microsoft Computing Safety Index, Singaporeans scored 42 points for PC online safety, eight points above the average global score, and the highest among the most proactive countries, and 43 points for the mobile component. 

According the MCSI, 78 percent of computer users in Singapore are experiencing multiple online risks, yet only 23 percent say they take proactive steps to help protect themselves and their data, compared to the global average of 55 percent and 29 percent respectively. 

This year, the MCSI also examined mobile safety behaviours, uncovering that although 46 percent of Singapore respondents (42 percent globally) run software updates on their personal computers, a lower 41 percent run regular updates on their mobile devices, potentially compounding their risk, although this is much higher than the 29 percent globally.

“Mobile devices often have just as much, if not more, valuable personal information stored on them as a home computer, making mobile devices equally attractive to data-stealing criminals,” said John Fernandes, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer, Microsoft Singapore. “The latest MCSI results demonstrate that no matter where or how people access the Internet, exercising safer online habits is essential. There are steps that people can take and technologies that they can employ to help prevent them from becoming a victim.”

Here are practical steps Microsoft suggest to consumers to stay safer online:

Lock your computer and accounts with strong passwords and your mobile phone with a unique, four-digit PIN.

Do not pay bills, bank, shop or conduct other sensitive business on a public computer, or on your laptop or mobile phone over “borrowed” or public Wi-Fi (such as a hotspot).

Watch for snoops. People scouting for passwords, PINs, user names or other such data may be watching your fingers or the screen as you enter that data.

Treat suspicious messages cautiously. Avoid offers too good to be true and be wary of their senders, even if the messages appear to come from a trusted source.

Look for signs that a Web page is secure and legitimate. Before you enter sensitive data, check for evidence of encryption (e.g., a Web address with “https” and a closed padlock beside it or in the lower right corner of the window).

Reduce spam in your inbox. Share your primary email address and instant messaging name only with people you know or with reputable organizations. Avoid listing them on your social network page, in Internet directories (such as white pages) or on job-posting sites.