RESIDENTS are putting themselves at risk from a cyber attack, new research has revealed.

A recent online survey conducted by Cheshire Police has revealed that residents of Cheshire are not as cyber-savvy as they think they are.

“It is estimated that around 80 per cent of known cyber attacks can be prevented,” said detective sergeant Chris Maddocks, who leads on the force’s cyber strategy.

“What this survey set out to do was to test people’s knowledge on five key areas that can help you stay safe online. It is not the case of ‘if’ it will happen, but ‘when’ it will happen to you.”

The online survey, which received almost 2,500 responses, noted how three quarters of the respondents need to improve their password strength.

It was also revealed how six out of 10 people admitted they put off updating devices while eight out of 10 respondents were over sharing personal information.

David Keane, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire, added: “It is concerning to see that Cheshire residents are putting themselves at risk of cyber-attacks by not using a strong-enough password or over sharing personal details on social media.

“With cybercrime on the increase, the risks of being targeted by cyber criminals are increasing. But by making small changes to make your online profiles more secure, you can minimise this risk."