Dublin has been ranked in the top ten of European cities with the highest number of cybercrime risk factors.
The survey of 100 cities, conducted by internet security firm Norton and research group Sperling’s BestPlaces, assessed urban centres on the basis of factors that could potentially affect online safety.
The study determined each city's rankings by correlating the prevalence of PCs and smartphones as well as social media use with risk factors like unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots and malware [short for malicious software] attempts.
Dublin was ranked as the sixth riskiest city behind Manchester, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Paris and London.
Researchers, however, said cities with the greatest risk factors did not necessarily correlate with the highest infection rates, “reflecting the fact that many consumers are taking precautions to keep themselves safe”.
The study found while Dublin had a comparatively low level of PC and smartphone use it had an average rate of Wi-Fi hotspots and cybercrime attempts.
“With the explosion of smartphones, tablets and laptops in recent years and the rise of apps and social networking sites, our online and offline lives are blending together in ways that we’ve never before experienced,” said Norton’s Marian Merritt said.
“While there are many positive aspects as a result, this analysis highlights the potentially risky factors we face each time we go online.”
By taking a few simple precautions now, people can make sure they stay protected against online threats,” she said.
Of the top 10 riskiest cities, Manchester garnered top spot on account of a relatively high incidence of Wi-Fi hotspots and malware attempts, coupled with a high rate of internet access and social networking usage.
The survey suggested that of the most riskiest cities, Berlin had the lowest numbers among the cybercrime data and the lowest scores for malware attempts.
