Rob Cotton, CEO of NCC Group, comments on research into the riskiest cities in Europe when it comes to cybercrime.*
According to the research the 2012 Top 10 'Riskiest' Online Cities in Europe are: 1. Manchester, United Kingdom, 2. Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3. Stockholm, Sweden, 4. Paris, France, 5. London, United Kingdom, 6. Dublin, Ireland, 7. Milan, Italy, 8. Rome, Italy, 9. Barcelona, Spain and 10. Berlin, Germany.
"While initially the statistics imply that the UK, and indeed more specifically Manchester, is the worst in Europe for 'risky online behaviour', the findings also highlight the sophistication of the computer users that live in the UK's top two cities. The survey shows how well-connected a city is, but not necessarily how infected it is since high risk doesn't necessarily correlate to high infection rates.
"The survey identifies the predominately high number of wifi hotspots in the top five 'high risk' cities, which shows a population that demands connectivity whenever and wherever they are. It also highlights an increasingly sophisticated technological population, who are well capable of securing themselves online.
"Interestingly, and perhaps most tellingly, is that both Manchester and Amsterdam (lying in first and second place in the table) both have a high proportion of students who are typically leaders when it comes to their use of technology. As high users of social media, online interaction via shopping, and mobility, the student population may reflect why these cities are being given 'high risk' status.
"Of course, social networking, online shopping and so on will always have an element of risk. Setting up unsecured 'dummy wifi' hotspots is a favourite technique of cyber criminals, and we would always urge users to avoid using public wifi for online banking and other sensitive processes. What's important is on-going user education, investment in protection, and a continued focus on cyber crime."
* Research carried out by Norton and independent research firm Sperling's BestPlaces