In a recent survey, about one in five Russians, roughly 22 percent, report that they always see messages from instant messengers first in their push notifications. This habit means the message will not register a read status, a finding highlighted by Kaspersky Lab based on results from a study conducted with SocialBites.ca. The pattern suggests a growing consumer behavior where people prioritise certain communications through notification channels, potentially impacting how quickly they respond and how information is triaged in daily life [Kaspersky Lab].
Additionally, the study notes that 14 percent of respondents choose to have these prioritised alerts only for individual chats or specific contacts. A security expert from a leading information security company clarifies that this option may not apply to voice messages, which can behave differently within notification systems and messaging apps. This nuance highlights how notification settings can affect the exposure and accessibility of various message types, including voice content [Kaspersky Lab].
More than half of participants, 56 percent, confess they are not ready to return voicemails promptly, while 64 percent tend to only pay attention to messages from friends or family. These attitudes illustrate a cautious approach to unsolicited or less familiar voices, underscoring a preference for trusted social circles when processing audio content in a noisy digital environment [Kaspersky Lab].
Overall, a large majority, 67 percent, agree that sending and recording voice messages is simple and fast. Yet concerns persist about privacy and practicality. While 79 percent feel that listening to voices in public places can be disruptive, half of respondents say it is hard to remember or verify information contained in voice messages after the fact. This combination of ease and unease shapes how people use voice notes in everyday communication, particularly in Canada and the United States where multi-channel messaging is common [Kaspersky Lab].
Experts emphasize the need for critical evaluation of online messages, including voice notes. This caution is advised because attackers have demonstrated the ability to imitate a known voice for coercive purposes. While such incidents are not widespread, they illustrate the risk landscape that users should consider when exchanging audio content over digital networks. The guidance is to question voice messages as a general rule and to verify the identity of the sender through independent channels whenever possible [Kaspersky Lab].
In addition to awareness about voice content, users are encouraged to periodically review device settings. A simple routine such as restarting devices can help ensure that notification configurations remain aligned with personal privacy preferences and security best practices. Regular checks can reduce the chances of misinterpreting or missing critical information that arrives via voice or text messages, especially in high-volume communication periods across North America [Kaspersky Lab].
As the digital landscape evolves, many users in North America adopt a layered approach to communications. They use push notifications to surface timely information while balancing concerns about privacy, accuracy, and context. This strategy often includes leveraging trusted contacts for sensitive messages and maintaining a habit of verifying audio content before acting on it. The overarching theme is prudent engagement with all messaging modalities to safeguard personal information and financial wellbeing in an era of increasingly convincing voice impersonation and targeted scams [Kaspersky Lab].