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Americans Worry Hybrid Work Hours Create Online Security Issues

May 11, 2021

Millennials think the End of the World would be worse than another pandemic, seniors think a Cyber War would be worse

When it comes to herd immunity in the US, Americans have mixed feelings for success and concerns about online security with hybrid work schedules. A new study of 1,007 American adults from NordVPN found that nearly two thirds of Americans (65%) said the US will achieve herd immunity from COVID-19. But they think this for different reasons, as 44% think herd immunity happens because enough will get the vaccine, while 21% said it happens because enough will get the virus. In contrast, almost one quarter (23%) do not think herd immunity in the US will happen because not enough will get the vaccine and another 12% said not enough will get the virus.
A variety of viewpoints were revealed when the study asked Americans what herd immunity from COVID-19 will look like for workers, including:

  • 49% said “Return to normal business locations”

  • 38% said “Never having to wear a mask again”

  • 27% said “Only vaccinated allowed in offices”

  • 22% said “Hybrid work hours split between home and office”

“With a mix of some returning to work and some working from home, 55% have concerns regarding online security due to the multiple connections. That concern for security increases slightly to 62% for those aged 25-44, and that concern from female workers dropped to 50%,” said Daniel Markuson, digital privacy expert with NordVPN. “Using a VPN ensures secure communication between you and your co-workers, thus nobody can snoop around your private conversations.”

What’s Worse…Another Pandemic, Cyber Wars or the End of the World?

The study found nearly two thirds of Americans (62%) are concerned another pandemic could happen before COVID-19 is considered to have herd immunity in the US. Interestingly, 38% think that a cyber war that caused an extended digital shutdown would be worse than another pandemic. Surprisingly, only 60% said that the end of the world would be worse than another pandemic.
Plot thicken on whether another pandemic would be worse than a cyber war or the end of the world when comparing age groups, especially when analyzing differences from the youngest to the oldest Americans. Seniors (57%) are more concerned about a “Cyber War” vs. “Another Pandemic”, while Millennials (54%) said “Another Pandemic” would be worse than the “End of the World”.
When Americans were asked what would be worse, another pandemic, or a massive cyber war that caused an extended digital shutdown:

  • 34% of those aged 18-24 said Cyber War

  • 26% of those aged 25-34 said Cyber War

  • 35% of those aged 35-44 said Cyber War

  • 38% of those aged 45-54 said Cyber War

  • 46% of those aged 55-64 said Cyber War

  • 57% of those aged 65 or older said Cyber War

But things get more interesting when Americans were asked what would be worse, another pandemic or the End of the World:

  • 53% of those aged 18-24 said End of the World

  • 46% of those aged 25-34 said End of the World

  • 54% of those aged 35-44 said End of the World

  • 66% of those aged 45-54 said End of the World

  • 67% of those aged 55-64 said End of the World

  • 80% of those aged 65 or older said End of the World

“While cyber wars are often thought of as an event that hasn’t yet happened, they are actually more real than most people may think,” said Daniel Markuson, digital privacy expert at NordVPN. “That’s why it’s extremely important for private citizens to utilize personal security tools that protect every aspect of their digital footprint, whenever possible.”

About Propeller Insights

Propeller Insights is a full-service market research firm based in Los Angeles, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to measure and analyze marketplace and consumer opinions. Propeller conducted its national online survey for NordVPN of 1,007 U.S. adults between April 21-23, 2021. Survey responses were nationally representative of the U.S. population for age, gender, region and ethnicity. The maximum margin of sampling error was +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

About NordVPN

NordVPN is the world’s most advanced VPN service provider, used by over 14 million internet users worldwide. NordVPN provides double VPN encryption, malware blocking, and Onion Over VPN. The product is very user-friendly, offers one of the best prices on the market, has over 7,400 servers in 118 countries worldwide. One of the key features of NordVPN is the zero-log policy. For more information: nordvpn.com.