Brits failing to protect themselves online, says Cyber Streetwise

The majority of Brits aren't taking sufficient steps to protect themselves online, according to a new survey from Cyber Streetwise.

Even though 95 per cent of respondents insisted it's their own responsibility to use the internet safely, three-quarters admitted they don't follow best practice on creating secure passwords.

New advice released by the government states that a strong password should include three words or more, plus a symbol.

However, two-thirds of those surveyed aren't using symbols, while almost half have adopted unsafe practices such as using pet names or important dates.

Over one in three Britons said they don't create strong passwords because they struggle to remember them.

Modern Slavery and Organised Crime Minister Karen Bradley said compromised passwords can lead to the theft of bank details, private videos and photos, personal emails and more.

"We can and must play a role in reducing our risk of falling victim to cybercrime," she added. 

"Most attacks can be prevented by taking some basic security steps and I encourage everyone to do so."