Towards a Cybersecurity Awareness Program for Non-Technical Audiences in Malaysia
Shafiq Ul Rehman, Selvakumar Manickam · 2023
It is undeniable that the Internet influences our lives more and more every day. For some, it is a source of knowledge. It is used for work for others; some find new friends on the Internet, and some even manage to improve their personal life to a certain extent. It is quite difficult to imagine a day without online communication with friends via social media, watching the latest news or new videos, and so on. With the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic, the grip of the Internet on our life has become even tighter. However, despite all the benefits the Internet provides, people should realize that it can be used as a conduit to harm the audience, their loved ones, and their assets. Cybercrime is distinguished from traditional crimes by its exceptional diversity, adaptability, dynamism, and ability to evolve, extending to all types of businesses, banking, and the public. The complexity involved in how the economy functions due to the integration of online and Internet technologies caused cybercriminals to evolve, leading to a more sophisticated and intelligent crime modus operandi. One of the most common crimes committed online involves scams or fraud. The number of scams, specifically online ones, is staggering, and the number keeps climbing yearly. Based on the findings, the authors designed a cybersecurity awareness program to effectively create long-lasting awareness and educate novice Internet and technology users to avoid becoming victims of cyberattacks.