ISLAMABAD: Nearly one in five employees surveyed in Pakistan said they had made IT-related mistakes because of limited cybersecurity knowledge, according to a new Kaspersky survey covering workplaces across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa.
The findings show that 18.5% of Pakistani respondents linked their IT mistakes to gaps in cybersecurity knowledge, while other common causes included being in a hurry, stress, oversight and excessive notifications. Kaspersky said the results highlight how workplace habits and digital fatigue can increase exposure to phishing, social engineering and other cyber risks.
The survey, titled “Cybersecurity in the Workplace: Employee Knowledge and Behavior,” found that 20.5% of respondents blamed haste for IT mistakes, 16% cited tiredness or stress, another 16% pointed to too many notifications, and 15% said oversight was a factor.
Digital clutter adds to workplace cyber risk
The survey also examined how employees manage their digital workspaces.
Around 37% of respondents said they keep between 10 and 20 icons on their desktop, while 36.5% reported even more. Another 30% said they regularly keep more than 10 browser tabs open at the same time.
Kaspersky said crowded desktops, excessive tabs and unused applications can make it harder for employees to focus and may also affect device performance. In some cases, unused software can continue collecting data or create unnecessary security exposure.
Digital cleaning remains inconsistent
The survey found that employees are generally more consistent about cleaning physical devices than maintaining digital hygiene.
According to the findings, 58.5% of respondents remove unnecessary files at least once a month. Others carry out digital clean-ups less often, in some cases only once every few months or once a year.
Kaspersky said reducing digital clutter and limiting non-essential notifications can help employees stay focused, particularly during critical work.
Work breaks and cyber vigilance
The survey also looked at how employees spend their breaks.
About 71% of respondents said they use work breaks to eat or drink, while 44% said they chat with friends or colleagues. Only 13.5% reported using breaks for stretching or physical exercise.
Kaspersky said regular breaks and reduced information overload can help employees maintain concentration and lower the likelihood of mistakes.
Brandon Muller, senior security consultant for the META region at Kaspersky, said digital fatigue is becoming a growing workplace concern.
He said constant notifications, cluttered screens and information overload can gradually reduce focus and make employees more vulnerable to mistakes and social engineering attacks.
Kaspersky urges stronger cyber hygiene
Kaspersky advised employees to keep desktops organized, close unnecessary browser tabs, remove unused applications and limit notifications to essential alerts.
The company also recommended that employers provide regular cybersecurity awareness training and establish clear internal policies covering passwords, software installation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools.
It also urged organizations to strengthen protection through security systems that offer real-time threat detection, visibility, investigation and response capabilities.
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