Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced individuals to adopt online applications and technologies, as well as remote working patterns. However, with changes in technology and working patterns, new vulnerabilities are likely to arise. Cybersecurity threats have rapidly evolved to exploit uncertainty during the pandemic, and users need to apply careful judgment and vigilance to avoid becoming the victim of a cyber-attack. This paper explores the factors that motivate security behaviour, considering the current environmental uncertainty. An adapted model, primarily based on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), is proposed and evaluated using data collected from an online survey of 222 respondents from a Higher Education institution. Data analysis was performed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The results confirm the applicability of PMT in the security context. Respondents’ behavioural intention, perceived threat vulnerability, response cost, response efficacy, security habits, and subjective norm predicted self-reported security behaviour. In contrast, environmental uncertainty, attitude towards policy compliance, self-efficacy and perceived threat severity did not significantly impact behavioural intention. The results show that respondents were able to cope with environmental uncertainty and maintain security behaviour.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Information security education for cyber resilience |
Subtitle of host publication | 14th IFIP WG 11.8 world conference, WISE 2021, virtual event, June 22–24, 2021, proceedings |
Editors | Lynette Drevin, Natalia Miloslavskaya, Wai Sze Leung, Suné von Solms |
Place of Publication | Cham |
Publisher | Springer |
Pages | 111-125 |
Number of pages | 15 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783030808655 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783030808648 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 16 Aug 2021 |
Event | 14th World Conference on Information Security Education: Information Security Education for Cyber Resilience - online event Duration: 22 Jun 2021 → 24 Jun 2021 Conference number: 14th https://www.ifiptc11.org/wg118-events/wise14 |
Publication series
Name | IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology Series |
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Publisher | Springer |
Volume | 615 |
ISSN (Print) | 1868-4238 |
Conference
Conference | 14th World Conference on Information Security Education |
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Abbreviated title | WISE 2021 |
Period | 22/06/21 → 24/06/21 |
Internet address |
Keywords
- Information security
- Protection motivation theory
- Theory of planned behaviour
- Environmental uncertainty
- Covid-19