
Americans spend nearly half their day online — whether it's work or play — ‘eye-opening' poll shows
'This new survey was eye-opening,' said Eric Bruno, senior vice president of product management for Optimum, whose telecommunications firm interviewed 2,000 US residents who have a home Internet subscription with any company for the poll.
'We were amazed to see how many hours folks are watching, shopping and browsing online on a daily basis,' Bruno told The Post.
Americans are spending nearly half of their day on the internet, according to a new survey.
Dusan Petkovic – stock.adobe.com
'It underscores how important a strong, affordable, and reliable Internet has become in today's world.'
On average, screen-zombie Americans spend more than 10 hours daily accessing the Web.
They spend 5.4 of those hours browsing, working, gaming, looking at social media, reading email or paying bills, the survey found.
They spend another five hours streaming video or TV content.
A majority of the people — 55% — use their television to stream shows or movies, followed by 20% with mobile phones and 25% combined using laptop or desktop computers or tablets.
For general Internet consumption, a majority of customers access service from their mobile phones or computers, while 44% do so from their TV.
Besides streaming videos and TV shows, nearly 80% of customers said they use the Web to browse or pay bills, 73% scour social media, 72% shop online, 37% handle work assignments and 20% complete school work.
The online survey of 2,000 adults ages 18 and over who subscribe or use home Internet service was conducted between May 6-14.

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NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
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Brewer says that attackers exploit these seemingly harmless symbols to trick people into visiting malicious websites or unknowingly share private information, a scam that has become known as 'quishing.' The increasing prevalence of QR code scams prompted a warning from the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year about unwanted or unexpected packages showing up with a QR code that when scanned 'could take you to a phishing website that steals your personal information, like credit card numbers or usernames and passwords. It could also download malware onto your phone and give hackers access to your device.' State and local advisories this summer have reached across the U.S., with the New York Department of Transportation and Hawaii Electric warning customers about avoiding QR code scams. 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'The cat and mouse game of security will continue and that people will figure out solutions and the crooks will either figure out a way around or look at other places where the grass is greener,' Sharma said. Sharma is working to develop a 'smart' QR code called a SDMQR (Self-Authenticating Dual-Modulated QR) that has built-in security to prevent scams. But first, he needs buy-in from Google and Microsoft, the companies that build the cameras and control the camera infrastructure. Companies putting their logos into QR codes isn't a fix because it can cause a false sense of security, and that criminals can usually simply copy the logos, he said. Some Americans are wary of the increasing reliance on QR codes. 'I'm in my 60s and don't like using QR codes,' said Denise Joyal of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 'I definitely worry about security issues. I really don't like it when one is forced to use a QR code to participate in a promotion with no other way to connect. 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A patron at a museum is less likely to expect to pay, although Sharma said even in those settings, fake QR codes can be deployed to install malware on someone's phone. Apple, Android user trust is an issue QR code scams are likely to hit both Apple and Android devices, but iPhone users may be slightly more likely to fall victim to the crime, according to a study completed earlier this year by Malwarebytes. Users of iPhones expressed more trust in their devices than Android owners and that, researchers say, could cause them to let down their guard. For example, 70% of iPhone users have scanned a QR code to begin or complete a purchase versus 63% of Android users who have done the same. Malwarebytes researcher David Ruiz wrote that trust could have an adverse effect, in that iPhone users do not feel the need to change their behavior when making online purchases, and they have less interest in (or may simply not know about) using additional cybersecurity measures, like antivirus. 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Nation-state attackers have even used QR codes to distribute remote access trojans (RATs) — a type of malware designed to operate without a device owner's consent or knowledge — enabling hackers to gain full access to targeted devices and networks. Still, one of the most dangerous aspects of QR codes is how they are part of the fabric of everyday life, a cyberthreat hiding in plain sight. 'What's especially concerning is that legitimate flyers, posters, billboards, or official documents can be easily compromised. Attackers can simply print their own QR code and paste it physically or digitally over a genuine one, making it nearly impossible for the average user to detect the deception,' Brewer said. Rob Lee, chief of research, AI, and emerging threats at the cybersecurity training focused SANS Institute, says that QR code compromise is just another tactic in a long line of similar strategies in the cybercriminal playbook. 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New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
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New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Americans spend nearly half their day online — whether it's work or play — ‘eye-opening' poll shows
Wired Americans spend nearly half their day online — splitting that time almost evenly between watching videos or TV shows and working, browsing and shopping, according to a new survey. 'This new survey was eye-opening,' said Eric Bruno, senior vice president of product management for Optimum, whose telecommunications firm interviewed 2,000 US residents who have a home Internet subscription with any company for the poll. 'We were amazed to see how many hours folks are watching, shopping and browsing online on a daily basis,' Bruno told The Post. Americans are spending nearly half of their day on the internet, according to a new survey. Dusan Petkovic – 'It underscores how important a strong, affordable, and reliable Internet has become in today's world.' On average, screen-zombie Americans spend more than 10 hours daily accessing the Web. They spend 5.4 of those hours browsing, working, gaming, looking at social media, reading email or paying bills, the survey found. They spend another five hours streaming video or TV content. A majority of the people — 55% — use their television to stream shows or movies, followed by 20% with mobile phones and 25% combined using laptop or desktop computers or tablets. For general Internet consumption, a majority of customers access service from their mobile phones or computers, while 44% do so from their TV. Besides streaming videos and TV shows, nearly 80% of customers said they use the Web to browse or pay bills, 73% scour social media, 72% shop online, 37% handle work assignments and 20% complete school work. The online survey of 2,000 adults ages 18 and over who subscribe or use home Internet service was conducted between May 6-14.