20-8-2024 (BANGKOK) A recent comprehensive survey has unveiled a concerning digital literacy gap among Thai citizens, with over half of respondents demonstrating a lack of fundamental cybersecurity knowledge. The Thailand Cyber Wellness Index 2024, supported by Advanced Info Service (AIS), sheds light on the urgent need for enhanced digital education and awareness across the country.
The study, which gathered data from nearly 51,000 participants nationwide, reveals that many Thais remain unaware of critical cybersecurity risks. These include the dangers of ransomware attacks, the perils of conducting financial transactions over public Wi-Fi networks, and the vulnerability of using easily guessable passwords such as birth dates.
In response to these findings, AIS has launched the Digital Health Check, a pioneering personalised cyber-immunity assessment tool. Saichon Submakudom, head of public relations and business relations at AIS, explains, “This innovative platform allows individuals to evaluate their cyber-resilience and access tailored learning resources through our Aunjai Cyber syllabus, empowering them to enhance their digital competencies.”
The survey categorised respondents into three levels of cyber literacy: basic, advanced, and those requiring improvement. Alarmingly, while 46% of participants were found to possess basic digital skills, 18.5% were identified as needing significant improvement in their cybersecurity awareness.
The study examined seven key digital health skills, with six showing marginal improvement from the previous year. Cyberbullying awareness, however, remained a concern, scoring 0.87 out of a possible 1.0. Other critical areas such as cybersecurity skills (0.61), digital use (0.66), and digital rights understanding (0.77) indicate substantial room for growth.
The implications of this knowledge gap are stark. According to the Technology Crime Investigation Division 1, cybercrime inflicted a staggering 69.1 billion baht in damages between March 2022 and July 2024—equivalent to 78 million baht daily. More worryingly, authorities were only able to freeze 10.7% of these funds, highlighting the challenges in combating digital financial crimes.
In light of these findings, AIS has bolstered its cybersecurity offerings. The company has enhanced its AIS Secure Net service, providing more robust protection against harmful websites both domestically and internationally. As an incentive for improved digital safety, AIS is offering this service free to its customers for 12 months.
Ms Submakudom emphasises the collaborative nature of addressing this challenge: “We’re sharing these insights with relevant agencies across various sectors. Our goal is to facilitate the development of targeted digital literacy programmes that address the specific issues faced by different demographics in Thailand.”
The survey’s results underscore the necessity for continuous digital skills development to equip Thai citizens better against evolving cyberthreats. Government and private entities are now leveraging these findings to craft more effective digital literacy initiatives, tailored to specific age groups, professions, and geographic regions.
