The proportion of Canadians who have been victims of cybersecurity incidents has increased from 58% in 2020 to 70% in 2022, according to data released Thursday by Statistics Canada.
The most frequently reported incidents were 60% receiving unsolicited spam and 40% receiving fraudulent content.
The federal agency adds that other incidents included being redirected to fraudulent websites asking for personal information, having a virus or other malware installed without permission, and fraudulent use of a payment card.
In 2022, of those who experienced a cybersecurity incident, 6% reported a financial loss.
Statistics Canada also observed that in 2022, 8% of Canadians felt victimized as a result of an incident online, such as incidents related to bullying, harassment and discrimination, or related to the misuse of photos, videos or other personal content.
On the other hand, 51% of Canadians said they had seen content online that could incite hatred or violence, and 73% said they had seen content they suspected to be false or inaccurate, such as misinformation.
Statistics Canada’s Canadian Internet Use Survey reports that in 2022, Internet use reached 95% among Canadians aged 15 and older, up from 92% in 2020.
Among Canadians, 78% used the Internet last year for online banking and 16% used it for online investment activities, such as managing stocks, mutual funds and cryptocurrencies.