Digital lock/cybersecurity concept
A new NordVPN survey reveals that while most Americans believe they’re staying safe online, many misunderstand how cybersecurity tools actually work, leaving them vulnerable to hackers and identity theft.
The study found that 52% of Americans use antivirus software, but 73% mistakenly believe it protects against all online threats, including phishing and identity theft. In reality, antivirus programs detect malware, not social engineering scams or data breaches. Password managers (41%) and VPNs (less than 40%) trail behind in adoption, highlighting a reliance on outdated security measures.
Public Wi-Fi remains a key weak spot: 38% of Americans regularly connect to public networks, and a third admit they rely solely on “safe behavior” rather than protective tools like VPNs or firewalls. NordVPN warns that such confidence is misplaced, particularly since multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains underused despite being one of the most effective defenses against account compromise.
Nearly half of U.S. respondents (48%) reported learning their personal data had been leaked, often through exposed emails and phone numbers. Even so, four in ten have never checked whether their information is being sold on the dark web.
The report underscores a troubling gap between awareness and action. As cybercrime grows more sophisticated, experts say consumers, and credit unions handling sensitive member data, must prioritize layered protection strategies, including MFA, VPN use, and regular dark web monitoring.
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