‘Employees are committing IT-related mistakes due to lack of knowledge’

ISLAMABAD: A survey conducted by a leading cyber security company revealed that Pakistan employees are committing IT-related mistakes due to lack of cybersecurity knowledge, reflecting lack of cybersecurity training and awareness programmes.

According to the latest Kaspersky survey titled “Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behavior” which was arranged among employees from the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region including Pakistan.

Around 18.5 percent of employees surveyed in Pakistan confirmed that they made IT-related mistakes due to lack of cybersecurity knowledge - a figure that showed the critical importance of continuous cybersecurity training and awareness programmes.

Among other reasons behind IT mistakes, respondents cited being in a hurry (20.5 percent), oversight (15 percent), being tired or stressed (16 percent) and having too many notifications (16 percent). The constant barrage of alerts, messages, and on-screen clutter is becoming an acute problem that can lead to costly IT errors, overlooked social engineering attacks, and even to cyber breaches.

The survey also examined employees’ digital workspace habits. An overwhelming 37 percent of respondents reported having between 10 and 20 icons on their desktop, while 36.5 percent admitted to having even more - with half to a full screen covered in them.

Meanwhile, 30 percent of respondents also keep more than 10 tabs open in their browser at any given time. Excessive icons and open tabs do more than distract attention and fuel procrastination - they can slow device performance and, in the case of unused applications, quietly collect data.

Simplifying your digital environment is not just a productivity tip, it is a cybersecurity measure”, says Brandon Muller, senior security consultant for the META region at Kaspersky.

For stronger cyber hygiene, Kaspersky experts recommend to declutter your desktop. Remove unnecessary icons and files, or organize them into logical folders.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026