A fresh look at workplace cybersecurity in Pakistan reveals a troubling pattern: nearly one in five employees admit to making IT-related mistakes simply because they don't know better. The findings come from a Kaspersky survey spanning the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region, and they underscore a widening gap between digital demands and worker training. Main Developments According to the survey titled "Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behavior," 18.5 percent of Pakistani employees confirmed they had made IT-related errors due to a lack of cybersecurity knowledge. That figure points to a systemic shortfall in training and awareness programs across the country's workforce. Beyond knowledge gaps, respondents cited other triggers for mistakes: 20.5 percent blamed being in a hurry, 16 percent cited tiredness or stress, another 16 percent pointed to an overload of notifications, and 15 percent admitted oversight. The constant stream of alerts and on-screen clutter, the survey suggests, is becoming a serious hazard that can lead to costly errors, missed social engineering attacks, and even full-scale cyber breaches. Read also: NA Secretariat Suspends Security Assistant Over Misconduct Background The survey also probed how employees manage their digital workspaces, revealing habits that compound the risk. An overwhelming 37 percent of respondents said they keep between 10 and 20 icons on their desktop, while 36.5 percent admitted to having even more—covering half to a full screen. Meanwhile, 30 percent said they keep more than 10 browser tabs open at any given time. These habits are not just about distraction or procrastination, according to Brandon Muller, senior security consultant for the META region at Kaspersky. Excessive icons and open tabs can slow device performance, and unused applications may quietly collect data in the background. "Simplifying your digital environment is not just a productivity tip, it is a cybersecurity measure," Muller said. Why It Matters The stakes are high for Pakistan's businesses and public sector. With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, a workforce that lacks basic cybersecurity awareness becomes a prime target for phishing and other social engineering attacks. The survey's findings suggest that without continuous training, employees will remain the weakest link in the security chain. Moreover, the prevalence of cluttered desktops and open tabs indicates that many workers are unaware how their daily digital habits expose their organizations to risk. Addressing this requires not just policy changes but a cultural shift toward cleaner, more secure digital practices. What's Next Kaspersky experts recommend that organizations prioritize decluttering as part of their cyber hygiene strategy. They advise removing unnecessary icons and files from desktops, organizing them into logical folders, and reducing the number of open browser tabs. For Pakistani employers, the next step is clear: invest in regular cybersecurity training that goes beyond one-time sessions, and foster an environment where employees feel empowered to report mistakes without fear. The survey's findings serve as a wake-up call that the human element cannot be overlooked in any comprehensive security plan.