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GWI: Gen Z lacks cybersecurity awareness vs boomers

New research finds Gen Z aware of cybersecurity importance but poor on practice.

byAytun Çelebi
September 5, 2025
in Cybersecurity

A recent survey highlights a notable disparity in cybersecurity awareness, revealing that Generation Z exhibits significantly less concern regarding online security compared to older demographic groups. The study, conducted by consumer insights platform GWI, examined the cybersecurity habits and attitudes across different generations, uncovering a potential vulnerability among Gen Z in the digital landscape.

The research indicates that only 30% of Gen Z individuals regularly change their passwords. This figure pales in comparison to Baby Boomers, where 42% report consistently updating their passwords. This discrepancy suggests a potentially lax approach to basic cyber hygiene among younger internet users, despite their reputation as digitally native.

Furthermore, Gen Z appears to be the least proactive generation in maintaining up-to-date software and devices. The survey found that only 43% of Gen Z respondents make an effort to keep their software and devices current. This lack of diligence in applying security updates could leave them more susceptible to known vulnerabilities exploited by cybercriminals.

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The survey also assessed the use of antivirus software, revealing that only 36% of Gen Z individuals employ such security measures. In contrast, a slightly higher percentage, 58%, reported using two-factor authentication (2FA). This suggests a partial adoption of security practices, but with a potential gap in comprehensive protection.

Gen Z exhibits riskier behavior regarding public Wi-Fi usage. Only 35% of Gen Z respondents actively avoid using insecure public Wi-Fi networks, while 48% of Baby Boomers exercise caution in this area. The willingness to connect to potentially compromised networks underscores a potential disregard for the inherent risks associated with unsecured connections.

Account monitoring habits also vary significantly across generations. The study reveals that 40% of Gen Z individuals regularly check their accounts for suspicious activity, compared to 54% of Baby Boomers. This difference suggests a lower level of vigilance among younger users in detecting and responding to unauthorized access or fraudulent transactions.

When questioned about their level of concern regarding cyber attacks, 44% of Gen Z respondents expressed being “very” or “extremely” concerned. In comparison, 49% of Baby Boomers indicated similar levels of concern, highlighting a potential disconnect between perceived risk and actual security practices among Gen Z.

Notably, Gen Z demonstrates a higher level of trust in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Eighteen percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling extremely or very comfortable with AI agents taking action on their behalf, compared to only 4% of Baby Boomers. Conversely, only 8% of Gen Z individuals expressed discomfort with AI agents, while 12% of Boomers shared similar sentiments.

The survey indicates that 24% of Gen Z individuals rely on AI for health-related information, and 22% utilize AI for financial advice. Furthermore, 24% of Gen Z respondents reported being comfortable with AI completing tasks at work, which is more than twice the proportion of Baby Boomers who expressed similar comfort levels.

Despite these trends, a significant majority of Gen Z recognizes the importance of cybersecurity training. Ninety-one percent of Gen Z respondents believe that training staff on data security should be a key workplace priority, indicating an awareness of the need for improved cybersecurity skills.

Matt Smith, data journalist, suggests that Gen Z’s overreliance on smartphones and automation may contribute to a false sense of security. “Gen Z has grown up in a world where convenience is the default. With devices auto-filling passwords, logging them in with a glance, and silently syncing their data, there’s little reason, or opportunity, for them to build good security habits,” Smith stated.

Smith added, “But that reliance on automation creates a false sense of safety. When something goes wrong, many Gen Zers don’t know how to react—because they’ve never had to think about it.”

A separate study conducted by Bitwarden earlier this year corroborates these findings. The Bitwarden research revealed that 72% of Gen Z individuals admitted to recycling credentials, compared to 42% of Baby Boomers. This practice of reusing passwords across multiple accounts significantly increases the risk of widespread compromise in the event of a data breach.

The Bitwarden study also found that when creating new passwords, 38% of Gen Z individuals and 31% of Millennials only change a single character or reuse an existing password, further highlighting a lack of robust password management practices among these generations.


Featured image credit

Tags: FeaturedGen z

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