Grandparents Are Tech-savvy this Christmas

ABINGDON, England, December 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Stuck for gift ideas this Christmas? Research from Kaspersky Lab shows that tablets, smartphones and laptops are on the Christmas lists of many 55 and over's this year - above books, Christmas jumpers and socks

If you thought your granny or grandad would be happy with the traditional pair of socks this Christmas, think again. UK adults 55 and over are tech-savvy, with 41 per cent putting a tablet, smartphone or laptop on their Christmas list this year, according to a new online survey by YouGov Plc for  Kaspersky Lab. Only three per cent of the older generation (55-plus) actually said they wish to receive socks, whilst a surprising 21 per cent of 18-24 year olds, and 15 per cent of 25-34 year olds said they would like to unwrap a pair of socks this Christmas.

When considering what to buy your grandparents for Christmas, knitwear would normally seem like a safe bet. However, according to the survey only five per cent of 55-plus year olds in the UK would like to receive a Christmas jumper this year. However, it seems that young people in the UK do want a cosy Christmas, with 14 per cent of 18-24 year olds putting a Christmas jumper on their wishlist. These figures suggest that older people are more concerned with a gift that is going to keep them better connected to family and friends this Christmas, also allowing them to surf the web, shop and bank from the comfort of their sofa.

Challenging traditional stereotypes, UK adults further showed how the older generation is steering away from the expected gift choices this year due to technology. Although 26 per cent of 55 and overs said they would like a book this Christmas, younger people proved they are bigger bookworms, with 36 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 35 per cent of 25-34 year olds putting a book on their list. 6 per cent of 55 and overs will even be asking to receive festival tickets this Christmas.

With more of the older generation welcoming technology into their lives, it's important to understand the security risks surrounding such devices. Some may not understand how to protect their newest Christmas gifts. 44 per cent of all UK adults will be asking for a tablet, laptop or smartphone this Christmas. However, recent Kaspersky Lab research^[1] shows that 65 per cent of smartphone owners, 16 per cent of laptop owners and 50 per cent of Macbook owners do not bother to protect their device, leaving a wealth of personal information easily accessible to cybercriminals. Those wishing to receive one of these devices this Christmas need to consider keeping it secure all year round.

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1. Results based on a survey by Harris Interactive, conducted in February and March 2012 among almost 9,000 consumers from the USA, Russia, Germany, UK, France, Italy and Spain. The full report on the survey by Harris Interactive is available at: http://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/pdf/kaspersky_lab_ consumer_survey_report_eng_final.pdf [http://www.kaspersky.com/downloads/pdf/kaspersky_lab_consumer_survey_report_eng_final.pdf ]

"The whole nation is becoming increasingly reliant on technology. Gone are the days when technology was aimed solely at younger people, it is no longer age dependant", said David Emm, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Lab. "As more mature consumers open their eyes to what technology has to offer, they need to be aware that times have changed, and issues such as cybercrime and malware are at the forefront of modern Internet activity and are developing fast. However, there are simple Internet security measures you can put in place to make technology fun and safe for all ages this Christmas."

Make it easy for your elders this Christmas and give them Internet Security software to complement their new device. The newly launched Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 offers a cost effective way to protect the most valuable and personal information saved on a computer. To learn more about Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2013, please visit: http://www.kaspersky.co.uk

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2111 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7th - 10th September 2012 .  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).

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About Kaspersky Lab

Kaspersky Lab is the world's largest privately held vendor of endpoint protection solutions. The company is ranked among the world's top four vendors of security solutions for endpoint users*. Throughout its 15-year history Kaspersky Lab has remained an innovator in IT security and provides effective digital security solutions for consumers, SMBs and Enterprises. The company currently operates in almost 200 countries across the globe, providing protection for over 300 million users worldwide. Learn more at http://www.kaspersky.co.uk. For the latest on antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-spam and other IT security issues and trends, visit: http://www.securelist.com/.

*The company was rated fourth in the IDC rating Worldwide Endpoint Security Revenue by Vendor, 2010. The rating was published in the IDC report Worldwide IT Security Products 2011-2015 Forecast and 2010 Vendor Shares - December 2011. The report ranked software vendors according to earnings from sales of endpoint security solutions in 2010.

^© 2012 Kaspersky Lab. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for Kaspersky Lab products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Kaspersky Lab shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

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