The Nutikaitse 2017 project looked into residents' skills and knowledge of cyber security procedures, and how aware they are of potential threats. One of the project's advisors, Erki Peegel, told ERR's radio news that a majority of respondents also applies this knowledge.

More than 90 percent of residents use passwords for their smart devices and don't share them with others. At the same time, the fact that some 40 percent of respondents still prefer outdated code cards to more up-to-date means of identification when dealing with their bank online is a cause for worry, Peegel said.

Estonian banks typically offer several options to log in to one's account. The Estonian ID card can be used in combination with a PIN code, a code calculator alongside a personal username is an option, and the Mobile ID, where a customer's identity is verified using their phone services provider and an individually generated code, is proving increasingly popular.

Code cards are still around, although the fact that they are based on a limited number of codes physically printed onto a plastic card makes them considerably less safe. According to the survey, in Ida-Viru County up to 60 percent of residents still use them. The survey was conducted by Turu-uuringute AS in May, interviewing 1,000 residents.