Countries with the Best and Worst Cybersecurity Scores

The research is out on the best and worst places in the world to keep your data and your organization's data secure.

Best vs. worst cybersecurity scores

A new study from Comparitech looked at how 60 countries performed in various cybersecurity-related categories:

• The percentage of mobile devices infected with malware
• The percentage of computers infected with malware
• The number of financial malware attacks
• The percentage of all telnet attacks by originating country
• The percentage of users attacked by cryptominers
• The best-prepared countries for cyber attacks
• The countries with the most up-to-date cybersecurity legislation

From this data, it ranked the countries from best to worst cybersecurity.

The 5 worst countries for cybersecurity

1. Algeria
2. Tajikistan
3. Turkmenistan
4. Syria
5. Iran

And this is how these countries performed in specific categories:

• Highest percentage of mobile malware infections: Iran, 52.68% of users
• Highest number of financial malware attacks: Belarus, 2.9% of users
• Highest percent of computer malware infections: Tunisia, 23.26% of users
• Highest percentage of telnet attacks (by originating country): China, 13.78% of users
• Highest percentage of attacks by cryptominers: Tajikistan, 7.9% of users
• Least prepared for cyber attacks: Turkmenistan, 0.115
• Worst up-to-date legislation for cybersecurity: Algeria, one key category covered

The 5 best countries for cybersecurity

1. Denmark
2. Sweden
3. Germany
4. Ireland
5. Japan

And these are the specific category scores for the top ranked countries in cybersecurity:

• Lowest percentage of mobile malware infections: Finland, 0.87% of users
• Lowest number of financial malware attacks: Denmark, Ireland, and Sweden, 0.1% of users
• Lowest percent of computer malware infections: Denmark, 3.15% of users
• Lowest percentage of telnet attacks (by originating country): Turkmenistan, 0%
• Lowest percentage of attacks by cryptominers: Japan, 0.17% of users
• Best prepared for cyber attacks: United Kingdom, 0.931 score
• Most up-to-date legislation for cybersecurity: France, China, Russia, and Germany, all seven categories covered

Cybersecurity scores for the U.S. and Canada

Curious about how the United States and Canada measure up?

Canada ranks sixth out of the 60 countries compared. The U.S. ranks 17th, based on its scores. 

Scores like these should lead to some interesting discussion among cybersecurity leaders at SecureWorld regional conferences in 2020.