Slovak users are prone to internet scams, such as phishing through emails. (source: SME)
Today, the internet is a global network with millions of users connected through various smart devices. Cyber attackers, therefore, have a sufficient target group to attack regardless of their location.
Slovak internet users do not avoid cyber attacks, but they know how to defend themselves against them. Security experts now point out that Slovakia is one of several countries that prevents these attacks responsibly, due to the historical development of protection and education in this country, according to Zuzana Hošalová, spokesperson of the Slovak cyber security company Eset.
“Up to three worldwide security companies have been established in this region and all of them have been more or less devoted to edification,” Hošalová told The Slovak Spectator.
However, Ondrej Macko from the TouchIT.sk website considers Slovaks to be careless users of the network.
“Slovaks install video players to watch arousing scenes without any problems,” Macko told The Slovak Spectator.
First in cyber security
Slovakia placed first in the National Cyber Security Index of the Estonian non-governmental organisation e-Governance Academy Foundation, a global ranking on cyber security. This reflects Slovakia’s excellent prevention of attacks in cyberspace. The country overtook Germany, Lithuania, Spain, United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Portugal and 63 other states.
In a total of 12 categories, Slovakia received the best score in seven. including cyber security policy, protection of digital services, protection of basic services, protection of personal data, e-identification and trust services, 24/7 detection and response to cyber incidents and the fight against cybercrime, the ranking website reported.
The country received its lowest scores in participation in military cyber operations and contribution to international cyber security.
(source: Source: e-Governance Academy)
Worldwide attacks
Slovak users can be subject to any cyber attack, not excluding the latest types. While 2017 was still full of ransomware, which encrypts the content in the infected device and requires a ransom for decryption, 2018 was characterised by new attacks using target devices to exploit cryptocurrencies.
