Kaspersky: Digital Anxiety Hits 83% of META Workers, Fueling Cyber Risks
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 19, 2026 — A new Kaspersky survey in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region shows digital anxiety shaping modern work, with employees unable to disconnect—even on vacations.
Key findings:
- 83% monitor work tasks outside hours.
- 85% reply to all work messages on instant apps.
- 85% check work emails off-duty; 81% respond during vacations or personal time.
This “always-on” pressure fuels stress. Other triggers: 43% feel anxious after accidentally sending a random message to a work chat (though 40% stay calm about unfinished emails). Blurred work-life boundaries and instant tools heighten monitoring fears—36% dread bosses spotting social media scrolls at work.
The culture risks burnout, lower productivity, and wellbeing erosion.
“Digital anxiety harms wellbeing and boosts cybersecurity risks,” says Brandon Muller, Technical Expert at Kaspersky. “Rushed responses under pressure lead to impulsive clicks on unverified links or attachments, making phishing and scams easier.”
Kaspersky’s Tips to Curb Digital Anxiety and Cyber Risks
- Slow down before clicking or replying: Pause to verify senders, URLs, or attachments.
- Treat urgency as a red flag: Criminals exploit pressure—always confirm requests.
- Avoid sensitive info on unsecured networks: Use mobile data or VPNs instead of public Wi-Fi.
- Leverage protective tech: Kaspersky Premium’s AI anti-phishing warns of threats.
For businesses, regular training builds threat recognition under stress. Robust tools like Kaspersky Next (cloud-native protection) and Kaspersky Security for Mail Server (anti-phishing) minimize human errors.
