A recent survey conducted by GWI reveals a concerning trend: Gen Z exhibits significantly weaker cybersecurity practices compared to older generations, despite being considered digital natives. The study highlights a disconnect between their familiarity with technology and their understanding of online security risks.
One key finding is that only 30% of Gen Z regularly change their passwords, a stark contrast to the 42% of Baby Boomers who do so. Furthermore, Gen Z is the least likely generation to keep their software and devices updated, with only 43% adhering to this essential security measure.
The survey also delved into the specific security tools and practices employed by Gen Z. Only 36% reported using antivirus software, although a higher percentage (58%) utilize two-factor authentication (2FA). However, their risk-taking behavior is evident in their approach to public Wi-Fi networks, with only 35% avoiding insecure connections, compared to 48% of Boomers. Additionally, only 40% of Gen Z regularly check their accounts for suspicious activity, while 54% of Boomers do.
The level of concern regarding cyber attacks also differs between generations. Only 44% of Gen Z expressed being “very” or “extremely” concerned about cyber threats, compared to 49% of Boomers.
Gen Z’s trust in emerging technologies like AI is also noteworthy. A significant 18% of Gen Z are “extremely” or “very” comfortable with AI agents taking actions on their behalf, compared to only 4% of Boomers. Conversely, only 8% of Gen Z are “not at all comfortable” with AI agents, while 12% of Boomers share this sentiment.
The survey indicates that Gen Z frequently relies on AI for important decisions, with 24% using it for health-related information and 22% for financial advice. In the workplace, 24% of Gen Z are comfortable with AI completing tasks for them, more than twice the percentage of Boomers.
Despite these findings, the survey also reveals a positive aspect: a strong desire among Gen Z to improve their cybersecurity skills. An overwhelming 91% believe that training staff on data security should be a key priority in the workplace.
Matt Smith, a data journalist, suggests that Gen Z’s overreliance on smartphones and automation contributes 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 explained. “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.”
The GWI report corroborates previous research from Bitwarden, which found that Gen Z is the worst generation when it comes to password reuse, with 72% admitting to recycling credentials, compared to 42% of Boomers. Even when creating new passwords, 38% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials admitted to only changing a single character or reusing an existing password.
