91.8% of Spanish organizations were compromised in one or more successful attacks in 2022

CyberEdge Group surveyed 1,200 IT security decision-makers and practitioners from 17 countries and 19 industries, providing valuable insights into global cybersecurity trends. We've extracted three relevant numbers for Spain's cyber security landscape that might inspire you to start protecting your data and privacy or, if you are already doing it, add extra layers of security.

The findings of Cyberthreat Defense Report 2023 reveal that:

91.8% of Spanish companies had experienced a successful cyberattack within a 12-month period.

42.5% of the Spanish organizations reported six or more successful cyberattacks during the year

76.0% of the surveyed Spanish IT professionals predicted their organization would likely suffer a successful cyberattack in the coming year. This level of concern was only surpassed by respondents in China (86.0%), Australia (82.0%), and Saudi Arabia (80.0%).

Also, Spain ranked fourth (79.2%) in terms of ransomware attacks, following Germany (81.1%), Saudi Arabia (80.0%), and China (80.0%). Ransomware attacks become relevant in data protection conversation as they are not classical anymore (encrypted data for money),but involve a threat to expose data publicly - 39. 8%, according to the report.

What are these numbers telling you?

As an individual, you may wonder why these statistics are relevant. It is because when companies suffer cyberattacks, the personal data they store on behalf of their customers is at risk. This could include sensitive information such as credit card details, addresses, and medical records. A company's data is your (and others) data.

Therefore, it's crucial to take proactive measures to protect your personal information, and not 100% rely on organizations or authorities to do it for you.

What you can do

Here are some steps you can take to safeguard your personal information:

1. Use strong, unique passwords: Create complex passwords for all your online accounts and avoid reusing the same password across multiple platforms.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Whenever possible, enable 2FA for added security, as it requires an additional verification step before granting access to your account.
3. Monitor your accounts: Regularly check your bank statements, credit reports, and other accounts for any suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions.
4. Be cautious when sharing personal information: Limit the amount of personal information you share online, especially on social media platforms.
5. Stay informed about data breaches: If a company you have an account with suffers a data breach, monitor all your online accounts for any unusual activity.

Digital Identity Protection helps you stay on top of breaches and personal data exposures

The easiest way to monitor your personal information is by using a service specifically created for this purpose, for example, Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection.

Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection continuously scans millions of websites and the Dark Web, searching for your past leaked data. You can see your digital footprint at a glance, check your breach history, map risk, and any personal information that may have ended on the internet: passwords, physical addresses, and credit card details.

It alerts you immediately if you are involved in a breach or your data is at risk and suggests actions you should take to minimize consequences.