Irish Households Becoming More Savvy About Internet Security in 2025

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has published its Household Internet Security 2025 report, based on the annual Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Household Survey carried out in the second quarter of 2025. The release highlights how adults in Ireland are managing privacy, protecting personal data, and interacting with online content. 

One of the key findings is that internet users are taking greater precautions to protect their personal information online. In 2025, 70 per cent of internet users restricted access to their geographical location when online. This is an increase from 61 per cent in 2023. 67 per cent limited the use of their personal data for advertising purposes, with men slightly more likely to do so than women. Half of users restricted access to their social media profiles or shared storage content. Many users remain cautious but not always thorough as only 46 per cent checked that websites were secure before making online purchases.

People were more doubtful about the accuracy of online information in 2025

The report also shows how internet users engage with online content integrity. A significant 80 per cent of people encountered information they considered doubtful or untrue, and most responded by checking additional sources or verifying the information’s accuracy. 

The majority of users encountered content they found hostile or degrading, often linked to political or social views, as well as racial or ethnic factors. 
Roughly the same level of males and females (63 per cent) had seen content online that they considered to be 'hostile or degrading towards groups of people or individuals'. Of note, younger females aged between 16 and 29 years were most likely to have encountered such content (84 per cent) compared with 27 per cent of older females aged 75 and over and 72 per cent of males in the 16 to 29 age category.
 

Overall, the Household Internet Security 2025 findings paint a picture of a population that is increasingly aware of digital privacy and content integrity issues, though there is still room for improvement in everyday online safety practices