Islamabad (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – 18 March 2026) Kaspersky conducted a new survey in middle The East, Turkey and Africa (META) region reveals that digital anxiety has become a hallmark of modern work culture, with employees unplugged even during their free time and vacations.
According to the results, 83% of participants monitor work tasks outside working hours.
85% of respondents answered all work-related messages in instant messaging apps, while the same percentage (85%) check work emails while on vacation, and 81% admitted that they respond to work emails while on vacation or in their personal time.
The pressure to constantly remain available contributes to increased stress levels in the workplace. Other sources of stress include problems at work, for example, 43% experience anxiety after accidentally sending a spam message to a work chat. Interestingly, not all digital mishaps are viewed equally: 40% reported that they take it easy when they send an incomplete email, proving that some errors are considered less damaging than others.
More than a third of respondents (36%) say they would feel very uncomfortable or even scared if their manager noticed they were browsing social media at work instead of at work.
“Digital anxiety not only affects employee safety, it can also increase cybersecurity risks for organizations,” says Brandon Mueller, technical expert at Kaspersky. “When people feel constant pressure to respond immediately to messages and emails, they are more likely to act impulsively, without carefully checking links, attachments, or sender identities. This urgency can make employees more vulnerable to phishing and other scams using social engineering techniques.”
According to veteran cybersecurity strategy and trainer Muhammad Asadur Rahman, “Kaspersky’s latest findings reflect a reality we are increasingly seeing in… Pakistan also. In countries like ours, where digital adoption is accelerating rapidly, these trends should serve as a clear wake-up call. Cybersecurity can no longer be treated as an afterthought, it requires continued investment at both organizational and individual levels. He further stressed that digital anxiety is not just a workplace challenge but a growing national concern, as constant connectivity can lead to poor decision-making and increased exposure to cyber threats.
Kaspersky recommends that employees slow down before clicking or responding. Treat urgency as a red flag because cybercriminals often take advantage of pressure and fear. Always check unexpected or urgent requests before responding. Use techniques that will help reduce risks. For example, Kaspersky Premium offers AI-powered anti-phishing features designed to help warn of potential threats.
Companies can reduce cybersecurity risks related to employees’ digital anxiety by providing regular cybersecurity training and organizations should use robust cybersecurity solutions to reduce the impact of human error. Kaspersky Next’s robust and adaptable cloud protection, backed by an unparalleled track record in cybersecurity, is one such product. Protection solutions for mail servers, such as Kaspersky Security for Mail Server, with anti-phishing capabilities, help reduce the chance of infection through phishing email.