Cyber risk behaviors in Vietnam

By Le Minh Nhi (VNP 26)

Supervisor: Ph.D. Pham Khanh Nam

Abstract:

The world has become increasingly “flat” due to the advancement of technology and the fast speed of the Internet connection, and the economies of many countries have had remarkable changes. Things have gradually digitized not only financial services but also other economic sectors. In parallel with the development of the Internet, cybercrimes have been expanding a range of cyberattacks. Cybersecurity has become a significant and urgent concern of technology-based economies in general. Humans might be considered the weakest link in cybersecurity because human errors could negatively affect technical security solutions. To determine the human factor in cybersecurity, we need to understand the factors that affect cybersecurity behaviors. This thesis identifies some predictors of online hedging behaviors based on existing research on risk perception and cybersecurity. Also, we highlight the importance of studies by demonstrating the influence of individual differences on actual behavioral decisions based on the survey of Vietnamese users’ behaviors with 286 participants from 15 to 60 years old. The study focuses on three individual differences: demography, psychological factors, and digital skill inequality. The multivariate probit modeling approach helps to clarify the correlation between the involvement of different users’ habits and cyber risks. The results support the argument that digital skill awareness has a significant influence on cybersecurity behaviors. On the other hand, users have a greater need to use the Internet and engage in online activities that quickly cause dangerous acts in cyberspace.