Aligned to World Computer Literacy Day that was commemorated earlier this week, Kaspersky is spotlighting a growing trend: more people are taking control of their digital security. A recent Kaspersky study has shown that cybersecurity solutions have become increasingly popular, with the number of users globally exceeding 90% among surveyed participants in 2025.
This increasing focus on cyberthreat protection needs no explanation. In 2025 alone, Kaspersky’s detection systems discovered an average of 500,000 malicious files per day, marking a 7% increase compared to the previous year.
According to Kaspersky data, the share of people using at least one type of solution for digital life protection reached a remarkable 93% globally. These findings were the result of a global survey spanning more than 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific, European, LATAM, Central American, and Middle Eastern regions*.
The top cited reason for using digital life protection tools was blocking viruses, malware and cyberattacks, with more than 60% of users naming it as a key factor. Protection of sensitive data (53%) and feeling safer online (53%) followed closely to complete the top 3.
To achieve these goals, consumers rely on a variety of tools: they use antivirus software, phone number blockers, and parental control tools just to name a few. Among participants of the study, antiviruses, VPN products, and password managers became the most popular ones in terms of usage.
It is worth noting that another global survey conducted by Kaspersky in 2023 showed that back then the number of users relying on security tools stood at 79% worldwide, confirming today’s movement towards a more conscious digital life.
This shift is not just a reaction to threats; it’s a digital culture change. People are beginning to see online safety and digital literacy not as a technical niche, but as a vital life skill inseparable from today’s digitalised life.
Kaspersky recommends that users join the growing movement toward smarter, safer digital habits.
To stay safe, Kaspersky recommends:
- Use reliable security solutions: to protect your devices against malware and other cyberthreats, install a comprehensive security solution like Kaspersky Premium.
- Make timely updates: it’s a safe practice to update operating systems and important apps as updates become available. Many safety issues can be solved by installing latest versions of software.
- Beware of identity leakage: try to avoid posting other information that may give away too much, such as home address, personal phone number, email address etc. Before sharing anything, consider unintended consequences and do not overshare anything that might compromise your or someone else’s privacy.
- Use a strong and different password for each service: that way, even if one of your accounts gets stolen, the rest won’t go with it. Though it’s nearly impossible to memorise long and unique passwords for all the services you use, but with a password manager you can memorise just one master password.
- Uplift your digital literacy: From deepfake videos to AI-generated phishing emails, deception is becoming harder to spot. That’s why structured education matters. Learn basic digital literacy with the “Cyberhygiene” free online course: master how to recognise phone fraud, phishing, and other cyberthreats. Understand how to protect personal data from intruders, safely use email, social networks, and other applications, and make purchases in secure online stores.
*The participants of the survey were not limited to certain professions or lifestyle choices, which would imply compulsory digital knowledge. Key criteria for the participants were that they must be aged 18 or above, use the Internet at least once a week and possess at least one personal device.
