ISLAMABAD: Nearly one in five employees in Pakistan say they have made IT-related mistakes because of limited cybersecurity knowledge, highlighting the growing risks posed by digital fatigue, cluttered workspaces and weak cyber awareness, according to a new Kaspersky survey.
The survey, titled “Cybersecurity in the Workplace: Employee Knowledge and Behavior,” covered employees across the Middle East, Türkiye and Africa region, including Pakistan.
According to the findings, 18.5% of Pakistani respondents said they had made IT mistakes due to insufficient cybersecurity knowledge. Other common causes included working in a hurry, cited by 20.5%, tiredness or stress at 16%, excessive notifications at 16%, and simple oversight at 15%.
Kaspersky said the findings underline the need for continuous cybersecurity training, particularly as employees face a constant flow of alerts, messages and digital distractions that can increase the risk of errors, phishing attacks and security breaches.
Digital Clutter Adds to Cybersecurity Risks
The survey also examined employees’ digital habits at work.
Around 37% of respondents said they keep between 10 and 20 icons on their desktop, while 36.5% reported even more, sometimes covering half or an entire screen.
Another 30% said they typically keep more than 10 browser tabs open at the same time.
Cybersecurity experts warn that excessive desktop clutter and unused applications can not only reduce productivity but may also increase digital exposure if outdated or unnecessary software continues to collect data or remains vulnerable.
Digital Cleaning Still Lags Behind
While many employees regularly clean physical devices such as keyboards and mobile phones, digital hygiene appears to be less consistent.
According to the survey, 58.5% of respondents remove unnecessary files at least once a month, while the remainder carry out digital clean-ups less frequently, in some cases only once every few months or once a year.
Kaspersky said reducing digital clutter and limiting unnecessary notifications can help employees maintain focus and reduce the likelihood of mistakes.
Break Habits Also Affect Cyber Vigilance
The survey found that 71% of employees spend work breaks eating or drinking, while 44% use the time to talk with friends or colleagues.
Only 13.5% said they use breaks for stretching or physical exercise, despite experts suggesting that movement can help reduce stress and improve concentration.
Brandon Muller, senior security consultant for the META region at Kaspersky, said digital fatigue is becoming an increasingly important cybersecurity factor.
He said constant notifications, information overload and cluttered screens can gradually weaken concentration and make employees more vulnerable to social engineering and other cyber threats.
Kaspersky Urges Better Cyber Hygiene
Kaspersky recommended that employees keep desktops organized, close unnecessary browser tabs, uninstall unused applications and limit notifications to essential alerts, particularly during periods of focused work.
The company also advised organizations to conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training, establish clear internal policies on passwords, software installation and the use of artificial intelligence tools, and deploy security systems capable of detecting and responding to threats in real time.
The findings come as businesses increasingly rely on digital tools and cloud-based workflows, making employee behavior an increasingly important part of overall cybersecurity resilience.
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