Nearly 60% of people who pursued online or hybrid education in the past year experienced at least one digital incident related to their learning, according to a Kaspersky survey.
The most common incidents were suspicious messages or links, reported by 27% of respondents, followed by fake apps or websites at 20% and scams through online communities or messaging groups at 18%. Other incidents included fake courses or providers, malware in educational files or applications, and exposure of personal data.
The survey found that 25% of those who experienced an incident suffered financial losses. Other consequences included lost time, reported by 47%, unwanted advertising by 42%, and reduced trust in educational platforms by 34%.
Kaspersky said 62% of respondents had engaged in some form of education during the previous 12 months. Among them, 45% studied fully online, while 40% followed a hybrid format.
The research also found differences across age groups. Generation Z reported the highest rate of incidents at 65%, followed by Millennials at 64%. The rates were lower among Generation X at 39% and Boomers at 26%.
Windows-based PCs were used by 71% of respondents for online study, according to the survey. Kaspersky said it is expanding its security portfolio to support ARM-based Windows PCs, including devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elite processors.
“We see a growing demand for advanced training courses and university programs delivered online. This rapid digitalization, coupled with an evolving threat landscape, creates a clear need for comprehensive digital-life protection,” said Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business at Kaspersky.
“Losing a thesis because a ransomware blocks a computer, paying for a fake course or having an account compromised after clicking a malicious chat link are serious risks that anyone studying online can face,” Titova said.
The company said its expanded support for ARM-based devices will extend its AI-powered scam and malware protection to those platforms.