Daniel - February 21, 2022
40+ Internet Privacy Statistics For 2022
This post will show you over 40 internet privacy statistics.
Data breaches, online espionage, and digital privacy threats are issues that human society will continue to grapple with as long as internet users increase daily.
Privacy concerns keep increasing, and more internet users are worried about the safety of their data online, which fuels the increased need for proxies usage as more internet users hope to cover the trail they leave behind online.
Social media use and the increased rate of remote workers are key trends driving the increase in the number of internet users, increased cybersecurity concerns, and proxy usage.
Below is a collection of outstanding online privacy, cybersecurity, and proxies statistics that you should know.
40+ Internet Privacy Statistics
1. Hackers gained access to accounts of 21 percent of internet users in 2021; are you one of the numbers?
Statistics from Security Today show that more than 21 percent of internet users had their email or social media accounts hacked. This is an 11.7 percent reduction from the figures recorded in 2018, and the reduction can be accounted for by increased cybersecurity awareness and VPN usage. To prevent falling victim to hackers, you should take steps to secure your accounts and devices.
2. 73 percent of the US internet users are concerned about their data privacy; you should be concerned too.
One of the aftermaths of the Cambridge Analytica scandal is increased concern about data privacy violations. More than 73 percent of the population of internet users in the US showed increased concern about how data companies handle their data. Minimize what you put online on social media; it could be used against you.
3. 61 percent of internet users concerned about their online privacy are less than 45 years old; how old should you be before showing concern for your privacy online?
A CISCO consumer privacy survey revealed that 61 percent of internet users who care about their privacy are young people less than 45 years old. Irrespective of your age, you should be concerned about your privacy online.
4. 25 percent of adult internet users post sensitive information online; should you do the same?
According to DataProt, 25 percent of adult internet users agree to post personally-identifying information like phone number, home, and email address online on social media networks. This is a risky move that can open you to cyberbullying and harassment, financial loss, a stolen identity, etc.
5. 44 percent of adult internet users in the US face online harassment; what should you do if you’re harassed online?
A 2020 survey obtained from Statista shows that 44 percent of internet users in the US experienced various degrees of harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying, and stalking. Online harassment is no better than physical harassment; you should take the necessary steps to protect yourself from online harassment.
6. An estimated 70 percent of victims of social media bullying are Instagram and Facebook users; Are you a victim too?
Online bullying is fast overtaking physical bullying as statistics from AJC show that 42 percent of victims of bullying are Instagram users, 37 percent are Facebook users, and 31 percent are Snapchat users. If you’re a victim, you should take precautions to prevent being bullied online.
7. 9 percent of internet users in the US do not believe in data privacy, do you believe?
A recent survey obtained from Statista shows that 14 percent of the internet users believe that privacy means exerting full control over information about themselves they choose to or not to make known to other internet users, while 9 percent believe that they do not have any privacy control over their data online. You have a right to online privacy; it's up to you to decide how you share your data online, especially on social media.
8. Mobile Internet Users are willing to provide data in exchange for online content; is it ok to do so too?
A 2019 survey from Statista shows that 58 percent of mobile device users are willing to provide information about the mobile applications and websites they use the most in exchange for online content, 29 percent would rather pay for online content than exchange such with private data, while 13 percent will rather give their contact details like emails and contact address in exchange for content. Never share your personal details for free online content.
9. The world experienced 2,244 cybersecurity attacks daily in 2020, of which 56 percent happened in South America
Attempts by hackers to steal or intercept incoming/outgoing data, perform cybercrime activities via third-party devices, or modify computer programs happen 2,244 times within 24 hours in 2020 (Statista). This means that a hacking attempt happened at least three times within 2 minutes. Of the total number of cyberattacks that happened daily in 2020, South American countries had the highest percentage of attacks (56 percent). Wherever you're, never let your guard down regarding data privacy and security; someone is watching.
10. Indians were more worried about their data privacy than the US citizens in 2019; they should be!
Statistics obtained from a 2019 survey on online privacy from Statista indicate that Indians showed the highest percentage (85 percent) of concern about their online privacy, the US citizens (78 percent), and Russians showed the least concern (76 percent). You should be, else you will get advertisers trolling you online.
11. 38 percent of Americans do not show concern about data privacy violations; does it matter?
38 percent of internet users in the US do not care about data privacy issues, with almost half of this figure not knowing what it means to secure their data online. This is a sharp contrast to the majority, 62 percent, who show strong concerns about their data privacy. It's your personal data; you should show concern about the fate of your data.
12. Two percent of US citizens believe that their data is 100 percent safe from hackers; do you believe so too?
Statistics obtained from Hosting Tribunal show that two percent of US citizens believe they are not susceptible to hacking attempts, while 81 percent believe they are not immune to hacking attempts. Hackers keep getting sophisticated daily; never let your guards down.
13. More Americans worry about identity theft than being murdered; which should you worry about?
A survey obtained from Loss Prevention Media shows that 72 percent of the American populace worry more about being victims of data theft than being murdered. Worry more about your physical security, but never neglect the safety of your data.
14. Over 150 million people in the US suffered from unintended data exposures; be careful not to expose sensitive data online unintentionally
A survey report from Statista showed that over 155.8 million US citizens suffered from accidental data exposures while 1001 individuals suffered from a data breach due to inadequate cybersecurity measures. Take proper caution to guard against unintended data exposure.
15. More Americans are trying to erase or reduce their digital presence; you should reduce your digital footprint
A survey obtained from Pew Research shows that 86 percent of the American populace have tried to erase their footprint online by deleting browser cookies, encrypting their data traffic, and masking their IP address using VPNs or proxy servers.
16. After Virtual Private Network (VPN), proxies are among the most-used network services worldwide; are you a proxy user?
One in every three people worldwide uses a proxy service. Over 142 million people have once used a proxy service; you should use a proxy service too.
17. More Americans are afraid of hackers than the government; you should be too.
A survey conducted by Pew Research shows that 4 percent are trying to protect their activities from law enforcement, while 5 percent are from the government, 28 percent from advertisers, and 33 percent from hackers or criminals.
18. Facebook received almost 200,000 data requests from law enforcement agencies worldwide
Data available on Statista shows that law enforcement agencies worldwide requested for Facebook users' data a record 191,013 times. The US had the highest data request volume of 61,262 data requests from Facebook in the second half of 2020.
19. More Americans feel they have no control over the data collected by the government
A survey by Pew Research shows that 84 percent of Americans believe that they have no control over the fate of the data collected by the government. In comparison, 66 percent believe that the risks far outweigh the benefits of collected data.
20. Social Security number is the most sensitive personal data; keep it safe!
A survey by Pew Research shows that 95 percent of the US populace agree that their Social Security Number (SSN) is the most sensitive piece of data, followed by Healthcare (81 percent). A hacker can steal your identity, enjoy the benefits you should be enjoying, and pile up huge debts you may spend your lifetime clearing, so keep your SSN and healthcare information safe!
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21. Google tracks 40 percent of data traffic; should that get you worried?
A study conducted by WhoTracks.Me shows that 40 percent of web traffic from Google contains google trackers to collect information about you for targeted ads. This is something to show concern about cos it can put you at risk of a data breach while convincing you to buy what you do not need.
22. 86 percent Care about their data privacy; do you care?
A 2021 CISCO consumer privacy survey shows that 86 percent care about their data privacy and protecting others, while 79 percent won't mind spending time and money to protect their data privacy; You should be willing to spend time and money to protect your online privacy.
23. Guess what? 67 percent of Internet users don't know their country's data protection and privacy laws!
67 percent of internet users in the US do not know their country’s data privacy and protection laws; it's your right to know the laws that protect your data privacy.
24. Most states in the US have non-existent data privacy and protection laws; are you aware of your state data protection laws?
According to Security.org, 47 states in the US have non-existent consumer privacy laws, 16 states have pending data privacy and protection bills, and only three states have modern data privacy and protection laws; what is the status of data protection laws in your state?
25. Your data privacy will be subject to global data privacy protection regulation by 2023
65 percent of the world’s populace will have more control over their data privacy under the global data privacy regulation by 2023; does this news excites you?
26. Most US citizens do not trust their government, should you?
A 2021 poll result obtained from New York Post shows that 64 percent of Americans doubt the safety and security of the personal information they reveal online, with about 50 percent doubting the security of their private chat messages.
27. Are you aware that VPN usage started in the 90s?
Although the concept of VPN was first brought alive by a Microsoft employee in 1996, it wasn’t until 1999 that VPNs were made public. Why don’t you use Proxyrack Residential VPN service today?
28. 75 percent of VPN users use VPN every day. Are you part of the figure?
A study by Global Web Index shows that 35 percent of everyday VPN users are desktop users, while 42 percent are mobile device users; You should use VPN on all internet-enabled devices to protect your data and privacy.
29. Is VPN usage gender specific? A fewer number of females worldwide use VPN services
Studies by Global Web Index: VPN Usage worldwide show that 38 percent of VPN users are females, while 62 percent are male. VPN usage is not gender-specific because everybody needs to protect their privacy online; whether you’re a male or female, you should start using a VPN service today.
30. 75 percent of all VPN users are less than 37 years old, does your age matter?
A study conducted by Ofcom shows that 75 percent of all VPN users are less than 37 years old; 39 percent belong to the Gen Z age group. Your age doesn't matter; we all need a VPN to keep our private life private.
31. VPN usage by Region: the Asia Pacific has the highest number of users than other regions worldwide; do you live in Asia pacific?
Government censorship is contributing to heavy VPN usage in the Asia Pacific (35 percent), Middle East and Africa (35 percent), and South America (31 percent). Also, a larger population of these regions are individuals below 45 years, who are more exposed to digital trends and developments. Irrespective of the region you find yourself in, VPN usage should be non-negotiable for you due to its numerous benefits.
32. Indonesians are the highest VPN and proxies users; what’s their reason for using proxy services?
Indonesians are the highest VPN users (61 percent), followed by India (45 percent) and Saudi Arabia (44 percent). High VPN use in these regions is due to the need to bypass government censorship, access better entertainment content, and protect their privacy online.
33. 33 percent of VPN users pay for music downloads; do you pay for digital content?
Data from Global Web Index shows that 71 percent of VPN users pay for digital content, not minding that they use a VPN; It's a habit you should cultivate, too, because getting online content free can compromise your data safety and security.
34. More Internet users utilize proxies to access geo-restricted entertainment content; what do you use proxies for?
50 percent of users use proxies to access better entertainment content on geo-restricted platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc., while 18 percent use it to hide their browsing activities from the government. With a proxy or VPN, you can access torrents, keep yourself anonymous online, and even access the Tor network.
35. VPN usage increased by 27.1 percent in 2020; what’s the cause of the surge?
Statistics obtained from BusinessWire showed that VPN usage surged by 27.15 in 2020 due to the increased number of remote workers as more people have to work from home due to the raging Coronavirus pandemic.
36. More Americans and Chinese searched for VPN on Google search engine in 2020, did you?
Data obtained from Google Trends showed that VPN as a search term had the highest trend on Google search engine in 2020. Did you search for the benefits of using a VPN on the google search engine?
37. 74 percent of Americans restricted internet usage due to privacy concerns; should you do the same?
74 percent of Americans have admitted to restricting internet usage due to privacy concerns and the safety of sensitive data. If you're using a VPN, you don't have to restrict your internet usage because a VPN protects your data and privacy and prevents sensitive info from falling into the hands of hackers.
38. Identity theft is America's biggest cybersecurity concern; should it be a threat to you?
A survey by VPN Mentor shows that 63 percent of Americans admitted that identity theft is their biggest concern. That should not be a concern for you if you're using a VPN because VPN uses high-grade encryption technology to encrypt all incoming and outgoing data, including credit card details, email addresses, etc., thus preventing it from falling into the wrong hands.
39. 46 percent of internet users feel they are unable to protect their data. Do you feel the same way?
Using a VPN gives you control over how well you can protect your data. Features like kill-switch technology, an encryption protocol, and IP masking ensure that your data remains secure and out of reach of hackers.
40. 86 percent of internet users say they care about data privacy. Do you care?
Keeping your data private is the best way to avoid being tracked with trackers and third-party cookies that collects your data for tailor-suited adverts. Using a VPN makes you anonymous online by protecting your browsing activities and preventing trackers and cookie collectors from collecting data about you. So, if you care about your data privacy, you should start using a VPN service.
41. 62 percent of Americans believe that collecting data is part of an everyday process; hence it is impossible to live through life without your data being collected. Do you feel the same way?
It is possible to live through life anonymously without sharing your data with data and advertising companies only by using a VPN to keep your private data private.
42. The Global VPN market share is projected to reach $107.5 billion before the end of 2027 if it continues to grow at an annual rate of 17.2 percent.
43. VPN usage reached an all-time high of 27.1 percent in 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which was at its strongest in 2020. Did you work remotely using a VPN?
44. Italy recorded a 175.2 percent increase in VPN usage in 2020.
Italy was one of the hardest-hit countries by the Corona Virus epidemic; hence more people had to work from home due to prolonged 'stay-at-home' orders.
Conclusion
There you have it! Over 40 internet privacy statistics that you should know.
These internet privacy statistics are fun facts, but they can be alarming considering the cybersecurity threats the world is facing. However, you can rely on proxies to protect your internet activities to a large extent.
We recommend that you use any of our proxy packages, most especially private residential proxies for surfing the web and masking your internet activities from ISPs and shady websites.
