Portuguese Concerns and Experience of Specific Cybercrimes: A Benchmarking with European Citizens

Abstract

The increasing use of a variety of devices that can access the Internet has contributed to the overall growth of Internet use. The growth of Internet use also leads to a general increase in cybercrime concerns as well as the number of users’ victims of this permanent threat. This reality is also very present in Portugal where there is a sense of lack of control and combat of this kind of cyber-threats. In this context, it is important to know some indicators associated with cybercrime, in order to take the best measures/actions in a reasoned way, to combat this phenomenon. This article presents the results of a study carried out in 2017 by the European Commission, whose analysis helps to understand the Portuguese positioning in the concerns and experiences about cybercrime, in relation to the average of the European Community citizens. Analysing this study, it was possible to perceive that the Portuguese’s concerns about cybercrime are in line with the average of the European citizens, although the percentage of Portuguese experienced these attacks is, for now, below average. Based on these results, it is possible to identify some public policies that aim to mitigate this phenomenon.