Nearly half of young people risking in UK their future online safety thanks to rising trend of ‘re-data-ships’

Nearly half of young people in the UK are risking their future personal online safety thanks to a rising trend of ‘re-data-ships.’ The stark warning comes after a survey by a Government-funded cyber security programme found that young people have regularly shared their passwords or PINs with boyfriends and girlfriends. To prevent these ‘re-data-ships’, the programme has put together a list of tips to encourage young people to protect their personal information.

A Government-funded cyber security programme is warning young people about the dangers of ‘re-data-ships’, after revealing nearly half (45%) of the people surveyed have shared passwords and PINs with boyfriends and girlfriends.

To halt the rising trend of these ‘re-data-ships’, Cyber Discovery has worked with its top security experts to create a guide for young people on how to keep personal data safe.

A ‘re-data-ship’ is when a young person shares personal data, such as PINs and passwords, with their partners and friends. Now, Cyber Discovery is warning young people against this, as it may lead to problems like hacking later in their lives.

Other research has also revealed that one in five 18-24 year-olds said they would feel comfortable sharing their date of birth with an organisation they didn’t know and 36% would share some personal data with an organisation they didn’t know when asked.

The study also found that 57% of people trust friends and family with their personal data – the same amount that would trust their bank.

The Cyber Discovery re-data-ship guide features 10 rules for young people to follow in order to protect their online security:

  1. Do not have ‘re-data-ships’ – where you share personal data with friends or partners
  2. Stay away from using your favourite musician or athlete’s name as your password – as well as your birthday, pet’s name etc.
  3. Have different passwords for each site
  4. Use a complex password alongside a password manager tool
  5. Change your passwords regularly

Cyber Discovery is a Government-funded, free, extra-curricular programme designed to find, educate and inspire the next generation of exceptional cyber security experts and is open to 14-18 year-olds in the UK. It uses games, challenges and role-playing to teach the basics of cyber security to young people, and encourages future careers in this area. Students interested in the programme need to complete as many challenges as possible from the online assessment phase here by 7th January 2019.

Creator of Cyber Discovery and cyber security expert, James Lyne, said, “young people are taught about things like ‘stranger danger’ from a young age, but often we concentrate so much on our ‘enemies’ that we forget to think about our friends and partners, particularly when it comes to staying safe online. Friendships and relationships constantly change throughout a lifetime, but those that start at a young age can be particularly susceptible to bad break-ups and fallings out. We need to teach young people about the importance of protecting their personal data and the risk of ‘re-data-ships’, as it will lead to greater protection later in life.

“Cyber security is a growing industry and it’s estimated that by 2022 there will be a shortage of 1.8 million cyber security professionals – which provides a massive opportunity for young people to get ahead in this remarkable and exciting career. It’s why we’re teaching young people the skills now, so they understand the dangers of sharing personal data, and to hopefully encourage them to pursue a cyber security career in the future.”

www.joincyberdiscovery.com

About Security Buyer

Security Buyer is the leading authority in global security content, delivering expert news, in-depth articles, exclusive interviews, and industry insights across print, digital, and event platforms. Published 10 times a year, the magazine is a trusted resource for professionals seeking updates and analysis on the latest developments in the security sector.

To submit an article, or for sponsorship opportunities, please contact our team below.

Rebecca Spayne picture 2025

Rebecca Spayne

Managing
EDITOR

Georgina Turner image

Georgina Turner

Sales
Manager

Afua Akoto image - Security Buyer

Afua Akoto

Marketing Manager

Read the Latest Issue

Follow us on X

Follow us on X

Click Here

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Click Here

Advertise here

Reach decision makers and amplify your marketing

Advertise here

Click Here

Related News

Image provided by SentinelOne

SentinelOne to Spotlight AI-Power at GISEC 2025

SentinelOne announces its participation at GISEC Global 2025 (6-8 May) at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The company will highlight..
Two young intercultural programmers trying to solve problem with access to data while interacting in front of computers

DDoS attacks targeting critical infrastructure

NETSCOUT released its 2H2024 DDoS Threat Intelligence Report, revealing how Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)…
Copyright: Security Buyer

ASIS UK Launches “Security is You(th)” Hackathon

ASIS International UK has launched Security is You(th), an initiative designed to engage students and early-career professionals…
BeyondTrust

Into the Cloud – Morey J. Haber, BeyondTrust

The January edition of International Security Buyer featured Morey J Haber, Chief Security Advisor for BeyondTrust in our Into the Cloud…
Riham Security website

Growing Intersec Saudi Arabia

Intersec Saudi Arabia’s Event Director, Riham Sedik, discusses the event’s future growth and government partnerships

Neustar Security Services introduces UltraPlatform

Neustar Security Services, a provider of cloud-based security services that enable businesses to thrive online, is launching UltraPlatform.

Security and fire 2023 trends

In 2023 all industries will face several challenges: sustainability, cost increases, and how to better manage energy & resources.
istorage

Zero trust, maximum caution

John Michael, CEO, iStorage considers the dangerous new ‘golden age’ of ransomware, ways businesses can neutralise..

LAPSUS$ exposes cyber gaps in organisations

The LAPSUS$ group exploded onto the cyber scene late last year after successfully breaching major companies.

Private CCTV risks privacy breaches, warns experts

With an increase of homeowners investing in CCTV cameras every year, a solicitor is warning of the dangers of breaching data protection laws
Scroll to Top