Project Abstract

Cyber security is now more than ever a requirement, not a recommendation. This study sets out to evaluate the levels of awareness in university students and proposes a questionnaire and e-learning method to help improve it. The research lies in its unique focus on cyber security best practices specifically for university students, a group often overlooked in broader cyber security initiatives. The overall research question investigates which cyber security practices are most effective at increasing awareness, whilst investigating current awareness trends in the space.My study involves a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys to assess current levels of awareness and qualitative analysis of interesting trends found. E-Learning interventions are proposed, and results before and after participation are reviewed to understand the efficacy of methods. Although the project is ongoing, preliminary data signifies a significant gap in both awareness and the application of cyber security measures among students. This could be due to a lack of educational support, or a general relaxed attitude towards the subject.The potential contribution of this research is substantial, providing insights into effective strategies for increasing students cyber awareness, and providing a report of current levels of awareness in the demographic. I hope this work could be used to help improve the security practices of students, whilst giving universities important data on the current levels of awareness their students hold. Data that could be useful to improve current cyber security initiatives at universities.

Keywords: Cyber Security, Education, University Students

 Conference Details

Session: Presentation Stream 33 at Presentation Slot 5

Location: GH022 at Wednesday 8th 13:30 – 17:00

Markers: Manlio Valenti, Pardeep Kumar

Course: MSci Computer Science, Masters 4th Year

Future Plans: I’m looking for work