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 relieve stress and recharge focus — a habit adopted by only 13.5pc of employees.

“It is important to recognise that digital fatigue is a real and growing stress factor: the constant stream of notifications, cluttered screens, and information overload gradually erode focus and make employees far more susceptible to mistakes and social engineering attacks. Simplifying your digital environment is not just a productivity tip, it is a cybersecurity measure”, says Brandon Muller, senior security consultant for the META region at Kaspersky.

For stronger cyber hygiene, experts recommend to declutter desktop. Remove unnecessary icons and files, or organise them into logical folders. Tame browser tabs. Bookmark the pages needed, close the rest, and clear browsing history regularly. Uninstall unused applications. Manage notifications. Keep only essential alerts turned on, especially during periods of focused work on critical projects.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2026