Cybersecurity UK

Recently the UK government revealed research on the most hacked passwords.  You can download the top 100,000 from the National Cyber research centre.
For information on how common identity and online fraud is see CIFAS research summaries.  This also gives basic data on the most frequently targeted groups.

How much do people know about cybersecurity?
The same centre also released the 2018 cyber security survey which found that 48% of those who responded found it confusing to know what to do to protect themselves online.
This echoes 2017 US research from Pew which found low levels of knowledge among the American public.  Take their online test to see how you compare!
If you explore the website you can find more consumer research on attitudes and experiences of internet security.

Is there a general lack of skills?
In July 2018 the House of Lords/House of Commons Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy Cyber Security Skills and the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure raised concerns about a lack of  IT specialists in industry  to support the future national infrastructure. It had proposals for future education.

Also on this theme see  recent surveys on cyberskills in the UK labour market and the  summary of responses to the National Cyberskills strategy on how to increase capability

Recently the Financial Conduct Authority has been conducting audits of skills within UK firms. Get access to their findings form the website

Globally a report by the non-profit association ISC in 2018  revealed a worldwide cybersecurity skills gap. “Based upon feedback from almost 1,500 ICT workers around the world, the report on Cybersecurity Workforce stated that almost two-thirds of businesses believe they have a cybersecurity skills gap.

For general advice on passwords try the Get safe online website.