According to a survey by global cybersecurity firm NordVPN analyzing the online usage patterns and personal information sharing habits of Koreans, the diagnosis is that while the use of AI chatbots is becoming commonplace, the rate of providing personal information such as real names and dates of birth online remains high, indicating a need to strengthen security habits.

Nord VPN announced on the 23rd that it was found that Koreans spend approximately 29 years, 2 months, and 2 days of their lives connected to the internet.

This figure is an increase of about five years compared to the same survey in 2021, and considering the average life expectancy of 85 years, it means spending more than one-third of one's life online.

The average weekly online time reached 57 hours, and internet usage was found to start at 9 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m.

42% of respondents said it is difficult to imagine a day without using the internet at all.

Online time was primarily focused on consuming entertainment content.

The average weekly usage time by category was recorded as follows: watching online videos for 8 hours and 26 minutes, binge-watching dramas and movies for 6 hours and 20 minutes, listening to music for 3 hours and 45 minutes, and using social media for 3 hours and 7 minutes.

33% of respondents engage in the so-called 'Second Screen' behavior of checking social media while watching videos. It was found that...

The use of AI has become a part of everyday life.

Koreans spent an average of 1 hour and 41 minutes per week conversing with AI chatbots, and 32% of respondents said that AI improved their online lives.

On the other hand, the percentage of people who perceive AI as an essential part of daily life was only 27%.

They showed a relatively open attitude toward sharing personal information.

66% of respondents answered that they have provided their real name, 67% their date of birth, and 50% their residential address on online platforms.

On the other hand, only 2% of respondents said they had experience inputting work-related confidential documents into AI tools, indicating a difference in the level of vigilance regarding personal and work information security.

Nord VPN recommended practicing basic security rules such as periodically checking for data leaks and identity theft, using trusted security software, verifying the source of suspicious links, emails, and messages, refraining from entering sensitive information into AI tools and online platforms, and enabling the latest antivirus features.

Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Nord VPN, said, “In an era where people spend more than 29 years of their lives online, privacy protection is no longer a problem that can be solved with strong passwords alone,” adding, “Users need to understand how their data is collected and used and carefully review every interaction in the digital environment.”