ISLAMABAD: A latest survey titled “Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behaviour” which was arranged among employees from the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region including Pakistan, says 18.5pc of employees surveyed in the Pakistan confirmed that they made IT-related mistakes due to lack of cybersecurity knowledge. Among other reasons behind IT mistakes, 20.5pc respondents cited being in a hurry, 15pc blame oversight, 16pc being tired or stressed and while 16pc blame too many notifications. The constant barrage of alerts, messages, and on-screen clutter is becoming an acute problem that can lead to costly IT errors, overlooked social engineering attacks, and even to cyber breaches. The survey, conducted by cybersecurity company Kaspersky, also examined employees’ digital workspace habits. An overwhelming 37pc of respondents reported having between 10 and 20 icons on their desktop, while 36.5pc admitted to having even more — with half to a full screen covered in them. Meanwhile, 30pc of respondents also keep more than 10 tabs open in their browser at any given time. Excessive icons and open tabs do more than distract attention and fuel procrastination — they can slow device performance and, in the case of unused applications, quietly collect data. Interestingly, most employees regularly disinfect their keyboards and phone surfaces (10pc have adopted this habit since the Covid-19 pandemic). However, digital cleanliness has not kept pace: 58.5pc of respondents remove needless files once a month or more often; the rest perform digital clean-ups far less frequently — once a quarter, or even once a year. While regular breaks are just as vital for maintaining both well-being and cyber vigilance, according to the survey, 71pc of respondents spend their work breaks eating or drinking, while 44pc chat with friends and colleagues. However, stretching and physical exercise is a more effective way to