Surge in online family connectivity poses cybersecurity threats

2026-01-28 - 11:51

Surge in online family connectivity is posing new cybersecurity threats, warns Kaspersky. As family life moves more and more online, it opens up amazing ways to stay close and create memories – but it also brings new risks, like scams and hacking. “Protecting digital privacy by using cybersecurity measures is an important way to care for your loved ones and keep your family safe”, comments Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business at Kaspersky. According to Kaspersky’s survey, regular messaging via WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Viber and other messenger apps were top of users’ choices when communicating with their families. People in the 35-54 age group were the most likely to engage this way, with 89% of respondents choosing this option. Video calls were a much less popular option among respondents as a way of keeping in touch with relatives, with only 58% choosing this digital solution. Another popular way of staying connected online for many families is exchanging posts and memes on social media and messengers (53%). The 18-34 age group leads this trend with an 58% participation rate, showcasing how humour and shared cultural references are becoming essential family bonding mechanisms. The older generation (above 55 years old) is, in general, less digitally engaged than other age groups, though the share of those who chat with their families in messengers is on par with the average (85%). 42% of this age group even exchange memes and posts via social media. Despite the fact that older people are more active in the digital sphere, they may still not be ready to face cyber threats and scams. Users should therefore educate their older relatives on how to stay safe online and use gadgets securely. The survey shows that in their free time, 70% of families choose to watch movies together, with 44% having family streaming accounts. Online games do not have the same popularity as a family pastime, with only 35% of general respondents opting for them. While sharing streaming subscriptions and gaming accounts may seem like a cost-effective solution, it opens the door to a host of digital vulnerabilities that can compromise your family’s security and privacy, especially when an account is used by different family members under the same login and password. If one family member’s device is compromised, hackers gain access to the entire account. Additionally, password reuse across multiple platforms means that a single breach could expose your financial information, email accounts, and other sensitive data. To manage all passwords securely, it’s highly recommended to use a password manager for all family members. Even for advanced users, communication online carries potential cybersecurity risks. From phishing attempts disguised as legitimate messages to sophisticated social engineering attacks, the digital battlefield operates within most personal communication channels. To ensure the complex protection for your messengers, it’s highly recommended to enable two-factor authentication where possible, use unique, complex passwords for each account, remain sceptical of unexpected links or attachments, use a reliable security solution with anti-phishing protection for messengers and follow security tips from Kaspersky experts. Pakistan joins hands with Kaspersky to strengthen cybersecurity