Perception and Awareness of Young Internet Users towards Cybercrime: Evidence from Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract: Cybercrime is a criminal (unethical and unlawful) activities using internet facilities such as virus infections, identity theft and hacking. There is high risk of becoming a victim especially for young internet user. The purpose of this study is to protect them by providing empirical evidence to the policy makers in combating cybercrime. The study examines the relationship between perception and gender, age and knowledge as well as the relationship between awareness and gender, age and knowledge towards cybercrime. A field survey is conducted among 342 students in the faculty of accountancy of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) with a structured questionnaire that covers demographic information and seven most known cybercrimes. Percentile analysis, correlation matrix, multivariate regressions are done to test the hypotheses. In addition, Post Hoc test is conducted to locate where the significant differences lies. The study finds: (1) Female students are more aware and have affirmative insights than male, (2) students in the age group of 18-23 years have lower perception and awareness than those aged 24 years and above and (3) those with higher academic qualifications are more aware at cybercrime and perceived the issue of risk differently. The study provides empirical evidence to the top management of the higher level institutions on the needs to improve their policies and procedures to protect young generation reducing the high risk of becoming a victim.Keywords: Cybercrime, Internet Crime, Cyber Security, UiTM, Higher Academic Institutions, Internet Users, MalaysiaIntroductionThe rapid changes in computer connectivity and innovation in digital technology provide numerous benefits to human life but it is not out of side affect such as cybercrime. Cybercrime is a new wave of crimes using internet facilities, which needs to be addressed urgently and earnestly by policy planners to protect the young generation as there is a high risk of becoming a victim of this crime (Asokhia, 2010; Mensch and Wilkie, 2011). Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) reported that every year there is a financial loss of 445 billion dollar in world economy due to cybercrime (The Daily Amar Desh, 2014). Cyber Security Malaysia reported that the total number of cybercrimes was 1038 in 2007 and it increased to 2123 in 2008 (The Star, 200). Cybercrime statistics along with an increasing number of research studies indicate that young people do not always behave ethically in online activities and hence, there is a chance of every internet user becoming a victim (McQuade, 2009). Chen et al. (2008) state that human factors are involved in security awareness process. Human beings are usually the first line of defence to secure information assets, no matter how advanced and rigid the security technology solutions may be. All the security breaches such as virus infections, identity theft and hacking are the direct cause of carelessness and lack of knowledge and action on the part of users (Chen et al., 2008). A high level awareness about information security and cybercrime issues amongst users at home, in government and educational institutions, especially young people, would decrease the occurrence of cybercrime (Sembok, 2003). The effectiveness of combating cybercrime among users' especially young users will work if they are familiar and adroit while using online. Therefore, human factors such as gender, age, knowledge and skills (experience) may assist in augmenting the levels of awareness among young people. Students' perceptions of risk and awareness on security of the internet and information should be profoundly addressed (Wang et al., 2008). Past studies have examined students' attitude towards computer skills and ethics among educators (Shariff and Deni, 2005; Aris et al., 2004; Sembok, 2003). The majority of earlier studies are focused on approaches of law and enforcement agency tools in combating cybercrime. …