Canada’s Identity Theft Worries Mount with AI Progression, Okta Survey Finds
March 26 2024 - 8:00AM
Nearly three quarters (almost 75 per cent) of Canadians fear their
identity will be stolen or misused due to the advancements in AI,
according to new research* from Okta, Inc. (NASDAQ: OKTA), the
leading independent Identity provider.
What’s even more concerning, less than a quarter (roughly 20 per
cent) of Canadians are confident in their ability to recognize
AI-generated attempts to compromise their personal information.
This lack of confidence comes at a time when generative AI is
increasingly used to manipulate photos and videos, often featuring
notable figures, yet it’s the risk of personal identity theft that
is poised to emerge as the foremost concern.
“As Canadians grapple with a surge of phone and email scams,
with perpetrators often posing as banks or credit card companies,
the rise of generative AI adds another layer of complexity,” said
Dan Kagan, SVP and Country Manager at Okta Canada. “With AI,
cybercriminals create convincing deepfakes, clone voices, and
automate personalized texts - so distinguishing between genuine and
synthetic content is increasingly challenging. Addressing this
requires a concerted effort from the private sector and government
to provide robust education. Unfortunately, many Canadians are
currently underserved in this regard.”
Identity theft concerns grip Canada as AI education lags
behindAgainst the backdrop of escalating identity theft
incidents, the survey found more than one-third of Canadians
(almost 35 per cent) have either experienced identity theft or know
someone who has, and more than fifty per cent are concerned about
their identity being stolen in the future. Despite growing concerns
over identity theft, less than a quarter of Canadians are educating
themselves about are educating themselves about AI-driven threats
to their personal information (around 25 per cent).
Employees less concerned about protecting their work
credentials, and employers must actWhen it comes to
targeted identity threats, Canadians were more concerned about
their personal accounts being compromised than their work
credentials. In fact, over 30 per cent of Canadians see their
personal banking accounts as the prime target for generative
AI-driven attacks, and more than 30 per cent point to social media
accounts as the next concern. This starkly contrasts the roughly 5
per cent who are most concerned about AI threats on their work
credentials and email.
This discrepancy highlights a concerning gap in Canadians’
perception of cybersecurity risks, particularly in their
professional lives. Neglecting the security of work credentials and
email accounts, which are often gateways to sensitive data, could
leave individuals and organizations vulnerable to sophisticated
cyberattacks.
Compounding this challenge is the widespread practice of reusing
passwords across personal and work accounts. This practice
heightens the risk of identity theft, as a compromise in one set of
credentials could potentially grant access to personal and
work-related information, magnifying the potential consequences of
a security breach.
While MFA is a start, going passwordless is
keyThe survey found that the majority of Canadians see
value in taking precautions to protect themselves. Over 70 per cent
of Canadians rank being cautious about sharing their personal
information as the primary step they take against digital threats,
with over 60 per cent using multi-factor authentication
(MFA).
While MFA is a mainstay for combating identity-based attacks,
its effectiveness is often limited to the point of login. Consumers
and organizations alike need to expand their security measures as
AI-based attacks become more sophisticated. Leveraging
passwordless technology is a critical piece to protecting
identities from AI attacks. Passwordless flows are inherently
phishing resistant, as there are no passwords for bad actors to
intercept. Removing passwords from the authentication process is
not only more secure, but also saves users time, reduces
frustration, and lowers login failure rates.
“Canadians require access to robust identity tools,
comprehensive education on recognizing and responding to cyber
threats, and proactive measures to safeguard their personal
information,” emphasized Kagan. “By adopting passwordless
authentication, organizations can effectively manage a range of
security risks while enhancing the customer experience, ultimately
safeguarding the personal information of Canadians.”
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About OktaOkta is the World’s Identity Company. As the leading
independent Identity partner, we free everyone to safely use any
technology—anywhere, on any device or app. The most trusted brands
trust Okta to enable secure access, authentication, and automation.
With flexibility and neutrality at the core of our Okta Workforce
Identity and Customer Identity Clouds, business leaders and
developers can focus on innovation and accelerate digital
transformation thanks to customizable solutions and more than 7,000
pre-built integrations. We’re building a world where Identity
belongs to you. Learn more at okta.com.
About the survey*The survey was conducted by Okta among members
of the Angus Reid Forum. The survey was conducted between December
19 and 21, 2023. There were 1,500 Canadians surveyed online across
Canada.
Agustina Ruiz, Corporate Communications Manager, Americas
Okta
agustina.ruiz@okta.com
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