Shortage of cyber security experts

A summary to the report, entitled Cyber Security Skills and the UK's Critical ... apparent lack of urgency in addressing the cyber security skills gap in relation to ... that would grant royal chartered status to cyber professionals".

Commissioned by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the research shows children are four times more likely to be sought out for guidance, ahead of search engines such as Google, when online accounts are being created and importantly when checking the security settings on connected devices.

Teenagers over the age of 16 were the preferred choice for advice on how to be secure online by 15 per cent, compared to 10 per cent who said they would ask work colleagues and 8 per cent who would speak to a partner.

The survey of 2,500 people, businesses and charities, also found that 22 per cent would turn to children aged over 16 for help creating online accounts, and by 19 per cent to check security settings on a device.

“Children are a vital cog in protecting online devices but we can’t emphasise enough the importance of increasing the numbers of those actively participating in cyber security,” said Chris Ensor, NCSC deputy director for skills and growth.