Commuting habits and travel preferences
Research from NordVPN reveals that 7 out of 10 people in the UK commute at least a few times a week. Globally, the average is similar, with 7 to 8 out of 10 commuting regularly.
In Europe, Spaniards and Italians lead the way, with 7 out of 10 commuting daily, likely due to high urban density and extensive public transportation. In contrast, Swedes commute the least often, with only 44% commuting daily, which can be attributed to strong infrastructure and remote work options.
When it comes to transportation, personal vehicles are the most common mode, used by 64% of respondents globally. However, in Spain, commuting on foot is nearly as popular as driving, with 50% choosing to walk and 59% choosing to drive. Spaniards and the French are the biggest walkers, well above the global average of 32%.
In South Korea, buses follow personal vehicles as the second most popular mode of transport, with 42% of people using them. Bicycles are most common in Germany and Sweden. Interestingly, people in English-speaking countries and South Korea use taxis or rideshare services more frequently than the global average seen across all the surveyed countries.
Eight in 10 commuters use some sort of device
The majority of commuters — 8 in 10 — use a device during their commute. South Koreans lead the way, with 9 in 10 commuters using devices, while Swedes use them the least, with only 6 to 7 in 10 doing so. In the UK, 3 out of 10 commuters don’t use any devices during their commute, which is higher than the global average.
Smartphones are by far the most popular choice, with no competition. In the USA, 75% of commuters use smartphones, followed closely by Canada at 73%. Smartphones are also the most popular in South Korea, where 9 out of 10 commuters use them. However, they are the least popular in Australia (68%) and the UK (70%).
The study also revealed that commuters in English-speaking countries and France are more likely to use laptops during their commute than in other countries. This finding suggests that commuters in these regions may engage in work-related tasks or require more screen space for multitasking while on the go.
Six in 10 commuters go online
The NordVPN study found that 6 out of 10 commuters connect to the internet while commuting. South Koreans connect the most, with 8 in 10 using the internet. Swedes connect the least, with only 5 in 10 accessing the internet.
Of those who do connect, half spend up to 30 minutes online, making brief online sessions the norm for many commuters. Interestingly, 8 out of 10 commuters who connect to the internet spend up to an hour online, which suggests that for a significant portion of commuters, internet use is an essential part of their journey.
Public Wi-Fi is a risky yet common choice
Six out of 10 commuters who connect to the internet use public Wi-Fi at least sometimes. Commuters in South Korea, Germany, and the UK use public Wi-Fi the most, with 79%, 78%, and 68%, respectively, connecting to it during their commute. In contrast, Swedes use public Wi-Fi the least, with only 35% of commuters opting for it.
The widespread use of public Wi-Fi highlights a potential security risk because these networks might not be encrypted, which leaves commuters vulnerable to cyberattacks. This behavior suggests that commuters in certain regions are more willing to take the risk of using public Wi-Fi, while others are more cautious.
The risks of shoulder surfing and device distractions
Shoulder surfing refers to spying on someone else's screen, typically by looking over their shoulder while they use a device. This behavior often happens in public spaces like public transport, where it’s easy for others to see what’s displayed on someone’s screen. It poses a security risk because the snooper can see sensitive data, such as passwords, personal messages, or banking details, without the device owner’s knowledge.
About a quarter of commuters (23%) have noticed someone shoulder surfing. Spain has the highest rate of shoulder surfing at 34%, while Sweden has the lowest at 7%. This significant variation suggests that public spaces with higher foot traffic, such as those in Spain, may create more opportunities for this kind of security breach.
In addition to shoulder surfing, device distractions present another risk. On average, 2 out of 10 commuters have missed their stop because they were using a device. This problem is most common in South Korea (32%), where many commuters rely on buses, trains, or subways for their daily travel.
Device use while driving
While our research didn’t specifically focus on the dangers of using devices while driving, it’s important to recognize how risky it can be. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published in 2024, shows that distractions were a factor in 8% of fatal crashes, 12% of injury crashes, and 11% of all police-reported crashes in 2022.
Texting or using a phone while driving is dangerous, but any device use, such as checking messages or using GPS, can also divert your attention from the road. However, distractions behind the wheel aren’t limited to devices. Eating, adjusting the radio, or talking to passengers can also take your focus away. To stay safe, avoid using devices while driving, and keep your attention on the road at all times.
What are commuters doing on their smartphones?
On average, most commuters who use smartphones (54%) listen to music or podcasts. This habit is even more common in the USA (63%), Canada (60%), Australia (59%), and Sweden (68%).
Many commuters also spend their trips calling or texting people (50%) or scrolling through social media (45%). Among the countries surveyed, gaming was most common in France, though it wasn’t the top commuting activity overall.
Spain and Italy break the trend — calling and messaging people are more popular than listening to music or podcasts. In Japan, commuters prefer catching up on the news, making it the most common commuting activity.
Meanwhile, in the UK, more people do work-related tasks, such as reading emails or documents, while commuting compared to the global average (28% vs. 24%).
How commuters secure their devices: Do they even?
On average, most people protect their smartphones by using strong passwords or passcodes (47%) and keeping their software updated (46%). Fewer commuters use a privacy screen protector (20%) or a virtual private network (VPN) (17%).
Screen protectors are most popular in Australia (23%), the UK (23%), and Italy (23%). In the US (24%), Germany (23%), and Canada (21%), more commuters rely on VPNs to secure their data.
However, 13% of commuters in the UK take no data protection measures at all. A third of smartphone users connect to public Wi-Fi unprotected (without a VPN) while commuting. Korea has the highest share of unprotected users, while Sweden has the lowest.
Cybersecurity concerns: How commuters feel about their data
Commuters who use smartphones while commuting in English-speaking countries, France, and Spain are highly concerned about cybersecurity threats. In contrast, commuters in Italy and Japan show moderate concern.
In Korea and Germany, the concern is evenly split — an equal share of commuters are moderately concerned and not concerned about cyber threats. Swedes are the least worried, with 7 out of 10 people either not concerned or only slightly concerned.
These differences highlight how cybersecurity awareness varies across regions. The reasons behind this may include differences in digital security policies, exposure to cyber incidents, or public awareness campaigns. Further research could explore what drives these regional trends and how they influence commuter behavior.
Cybersecurity tips to follow en route
Commuting can expose you to various security risks, especially when using public Wi-Fi or personal devices on the go. To protect your data and privacy, keep these personal cybersecurity tips in mind:
- Avoid opening sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. Refrain from accessing sensitive accounts, such as banking or work-related services, while on unsecured networks. Hackers can exploit these networks to intercept your data and gain unauthorized access.
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security to your accounts. 2FA will make it harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access to your online accounts.
- Keep devices updated. Ensure your smartphone, laptop, or tablet has the latest software updates to protect against known vulnerabilities.
- Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connections. Disable auto-connect features to prevent your device from connecting to unsafe networks without your knowledge.
- Use strong, unique passwords. Use complex, unique passwords for your accounts, and consider using a password manager to keep track of them securely.
- Lock your device. Always lock your device with a password, fingerprint, or face recognition to prevent unauthorized access if it gets lost or stolen.
- Use a VPN. Always connect to a VPN to encrypt your internet connection and protect your online traffic on public Wi-Fi networks.
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Methodology
The survey was commissioned by NordVPN and conducted by the external companies Cint and Norstat on February 20–March 2, 2025. The survey’s target group were residents of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, South Korea, and Japan aged 18-74 (nationally representative) with an exception in South Korea (18-64).
The sample was taken from national internet users. Quotas were placed on age, gender, and place of residence. In total, 10,800 people were surveyed — 800 people from Spain and 1,000 people from each of the remaining countries.
