Online Security Research Articles

Abstract 12939: Friend or Foe: Increased Access to Care via Patient Portals

Background: Patient portals are secure online websites that grant patients access to their medical record. Portal use is associated with improved chronic disease management. Whether the use of patient portals is associated with cardiac outcomes is less well known and deserves further study. We examined the association of patient portal use with cardiac events among a large cohort of patients with CVD. We expected to find differences in portal use by sociodemographic info. We hypothesized that portal use would be negatively associated with cardiac events. Methods: De-identified data for adult patients meeting inclusion criteria were obtained between January 2018 and October 2021. The association of portal use with demographic factors was assessed using t-test and/or chi squared. Our primary outcomes were emergency department (ED) visit or all-cause readmission. We used a Cox model adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates at an alpha of 0.05. Results: The Table summarizes our findings. There was a significant difference in portal use by sex, race, ethnicity, English proficiency, and marital status. The Figure shows the adjusted findings that portal use was associated with higher hazards of ED visits and all-cause readmission at one year. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that sociodemographic factors are associated with online patient portal use at a single institution. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that portal use portends increased ED visits and hospitalization (lower event-free survival). These data suggest that patient portal access and closer clinician scrutiny may lead to increased health services utilization.

Risk-taking in consumers’ online purchases of health supplements and natural products: a grounded theory approach

BackgroundHealth supplements and natural products are widely used by the general public to support physical function and prevent disease. Additionally, with the advent of e-commerce, these products have become easily accessible to the general public. Although several theoretical models have been used to explain the use of health supplements and natural products, empirical evidence on how consumers make decisions to purchase online health supplements and natural products remains limited.MethodsIn this study, a grounded theory approach was used to develop a substantive theoretical model with the aim of investigating the decision-making process of consumers when purchasing health supplements and natural products online. Malaysian adult consumers who had purchased these products via the Internet were either purposively or theoretically sampled. A total of 18 virtual in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted to elicit participants’ experiences and priorities in relation to this activity. All the IDIs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using open coding, focus coding and theoretical coding. The analytical interpretations and theoretical concepts were recorded in research memos.ResultsConsumers’ decisions to purchase a health supplement or natural product over the Internet are based on a series of assessments regarding the perceived benefits and risks of this activity, which may be related to the product or the process. In the online marketplace, consumers attempt to choose products, online sellers, sales platforms and/or purchase mechanisms with lower perceived risk, which ultimately enhances their confidence in five elements related to the purchase: (1) product effectiveness, (2) product safety, (3) purchase convenience, (4) fair purchase and (5) online security. Consumers take an acceptable level of risk to purchase these products online, and this acceptable level is unique to each individual and is based on their perception of having control over the potential consequences if the worst-case scenario occurs.ConclusionsIn this study, a substantive theoretical model is developed to demonstrate how consumers decide to purchase online health supplements and natural products by accepting an acceptable level of risk associated with the product or process. The emerging model is potentially transferable to other populations in similar contexts.

Encryption-based Coordinated Volt/Var Control for Distribution Networks With Multi-Microgrids

This paper proposes a data-driven coordinated volt/var control (VVC) strategy for active distribution networks (ADN) with multi-microgrids, which can achieve online economic and secure operations under false data injection attacks (FDIA). Based on voltage and power measurements, the microgrid central controller (MGCC) obtains optimal reactive power supports at the point of common coupling (PCC) and sends them to the distribution system operator (DSO). The MGCC is formulated with a convolution neural network (CNN) to emulate the optimal behaviors in microgrids (MGs), which can reduce computational burdens and facilitate its online application. The DSO then performs centralized optimization to dispatch VVC devices and update voltages at PCC. A voltage sensitivity-based reactive power adjustment method is also developed to simplify the iterative optimization process between ADN and MGs without deteriorating the VVC performance in each MG. Finally, data integrity and privacy are protected through an encrypted communication process against FDIA. The GGH (Goldreich-Goldwasser-Halevi) encryption algorithm directly prevents attackers from accessing the original transmitted data, while the RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) digital signature algorithm helps detect malicious tampering with the ciphertext during communication. Numerical simulations on a modified IEEE 33-bus ADN with three EU 16-bus MGs verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in mitigating voltage violations, reducing voltage regulation costs and protecting data security.

The temptation to cheat in online exams: moving beyond the binary discourse of cheating and not cheating

Discussions around assessment integrity often focus on the exam conditions and the motivations and values of those who cheated in comparison with those who did not. We argue that discourse needs to move away from a binary representation of cheating. Instead, we propose that the conversation may be more productive and more impactful by focusing on those who do not cheat, but who are tempted to do so. We conceptualise this group as being at risk of future cheating behaviour and potentially more receptive of targeted strategies to support their integrity decisions. In this paper we report on a large-scale survey of university students (n = 7,511) who had just completed one or more end of semester online exams. In doing so we explore students’ reported temptation to cheat. Analysis surrounding this “at risk” group reveals students who were Tempted (n = 1379) had significant differences from those who Cheated (n = 216) as well as those who were Not tempted (n = 5916). We focus on four research questions exploring whether there are specific online exam conditions, security settings, student attitudes or perceptions which are more strongly associated with the temptation to cheat. The paper offers insights to help institutions to minimise factors that might lead to breaches of assessment integrity, by focusing on the temptation to cheat during assessment.

Hospital staff reports of coworker positive and unprofessional behaviours across eight hospitals: who reports what about whom?

BackgroundWorkplace behaviours of healthcare staff impact patient safety, staff well-being and organisational outcomes. A whole-of-hospital culture change programme, Ethos, was implemented by St. Vincent’s Health Australia across eight hospitals. Ethos...

Implementing Number Theory in Visual Cryptography for Secure Online Transactions using QR Codes

Abstract: In this modern world, due to the excessive availability of the Internet, it is extremely easy for people to communicate and share multimedia contents with each other. Moreover, Online Transactions has also been widely developed, in which secure means of data transfer play the major role. At the same time, secure transfer of personal and copyrighted data has become a critical issue. Visual cryptography (VC) is a useful tool for securing data (i.e. images, texts) that contain sensitive information. As a subset of secret sharing, VC has got importance for its security mechanism, which takes into account both image processing and cryptography. To achieve this goal, we manipulate quick response (QR) code as a container. QR codes generated by a certain system can carry its ordinary message in addition to the secure data. Anyone can read the message, but the secure data can only be obtained using a secret key. In this paper, a specified field of Mathematics, Number Theory is implemented in the concepts of VC for the secure online transactions which is achieved using QR codes.

Improve the Onion Routing Performance and Security with Cryptographic Algorithms

Onion Routing and Cryptographic Algorithms are two essential components of online privacy and secure data transmission. Onion Routing is a technique used to protect internet users' anonymity by routing their communication through a network of servers, while Cryptographic Algorithms are used to encrypt and decrypt data to ensure its confidentiality. As technology advances, there is a need to consider the development of new cryptographic algorithms for TOR to ensure its continued effectiveness. The combination of Onion Routing and Cryptographic Algorithms has proven to be an effective way to protect online privacy and security. This paper aims to explore the benefits of combining Onion Routing and Cryptographic Algorithms and to propose a hybrid symmetric and hashing algorithm technique to transmit data securely. By the end of this paper, researchers will have a comprehensive understanding of the Onion Routing and Cryptographic Algorithms, their implementation in TOR, and the limitations and risks associated with using such tools.

The Legal Dynamics of E-Commerce and Direct Selling: A Comprehensive Analysis of The Amway India Enterprises Vs. Union of India Case

This research paper delves into the landmark case of Amway India Enterprises vs. Union of India, adjudicated by the Delhi High Court in July 2019. The case pertained to alleged interference by e-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart in the contractual relationships between direct selling companies and their independent sales representatives. The paper dissects the intricate legal facets of this case, encompassing constitutional matters, intellectual property rights, information technology laws, consumer protection, and contractual and tort laws. A central issue examined was whether e-commerce platforms were bound by the Direct Selling Guidelines, 2016, and if their actions constituted trademark violations. The case also probed the applicability of Section 79 of the Information Technology Act and intermediary responsibilities. The Delhi High Court's judgment wielded substantial influence over the Indian business landscape. E-commerce platforms were mandated to cease commercial activity on plaintiffs' products and furnish detailed seller data, necessitating operational adjustments. In conclusion, the Amway India Enterprises case signifies the evolving commerce dynamics in the digital era and underscores the pivotal role of the legal system in ensuring fair competition, consumer safety, and intellectual property preservation. As business landscapes evolve, this case illuminates the path toward a responsible, transparent, and secure online marketplace in India.

The Development of a Secure Online System to Protect Social Networking Platforms from Security Attacks

Due to the rapid advancement of social media, a huge amount of data is generated daily. Due to this great spread and expansion of the data at the social or professional level, the risks of securing the information become a challenging job. In this regard, we conducted an in-depth interview to gather specific information about how infected users may be provided with information about recovering their hacked social networking accounts. Further, we have introduced a complete solution to help social network users to improve the idea of using different applications from one appropriate platform. In order to build this secure platform for accessing the security applications such as bank accounts, etc., we set various security methods to access social network websites, such as sending an OTP to their respective mobile devices, email or by fingerprint. Further, we also added a camera to identify the wrong or fake registration process of an intruder. The camera captures an image of the intruder registering to a social network website using the legitimate user’s information. In addition, the application also has a solution for forgetting the password or security questions that are sent to the user via email. Finally, the application saves the password, which can be recovered when the user forgets it.

Reporting radiographers in Europe survey: Support, role satisfaction, and advanced clinical practice within the European federation of radiographer society (EFRS) member countries

IntroductionIncreasing number of radiographers are undertaking image reporting throughout Europe. However, there are variations in practice and experience in European countries. The study aim was to investigate reporting radiographer's perceptions in relation to support for their role and workload satisfaction and elements of advanced practice that may also be undertaken. MethodsFollowing institutional ethical approval an online 34 item questionnaire survey was circulated via social media; Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn in a 12-week period in 2022 across Europe. The survey data were managed by the online secure database REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture). Data was collected across a range of questions, of which those relating to support for, and barriers to radiographer reporting, role and job satisfaction, and other role elements are reported here. ResultsA response level of 345 individual reporting radiographers replied to the survey from 15 European countries; some questions were optional and therefore had a lower response rate. There was consensus about the need for support from radiologists and management, protected time, and funding to support the reporting role. The majority of respondents received additional pay for taking on this role and expressed satisfaction with their role and workload. In relation to elements of advanced practice, the majority of respondents were involved in educational and managerial activities, and there was interest, but limited involvement, in research. ConclusionThere was a consensus about the support needed, and perceived barriers to, radiographer reporting, between reporting radiographers from different countries. Whilst there is some commonality in relation to activities such as supervision and education, there was clearer variety in relation to opportunities for research between the respondents, perhaps reflecting the differences between reporting as a standalone role development and reporting as part of an advanced clinical practice role. Implications for practiceAs there is increasingly an emphasis on advanced clinical practice, reporting radiographers are likely to require support to develop their skills so that they can actively participate in the broader activities associated with this role, including education, leadership, and research.

Does the Pandemic Have an Impact on Consumer Behavior in Malaysia?

Due to travel restrictions and social distancing, people migrate to online platforms. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted Malaysians to shop online instead of going to the store daily. This study investigates how Covid-19 affects customer behavior in Malaysia, where some indicators reveal a shift to online shopping during the pandemic. This study employed a survey research design. The researchers tested hypotheses using SPSS. A total of 200 respondents participated in this survey. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The findings revealed that price, convenience, and service quality could directly affect customer behavioral intention. The researchers also found that online trustworthiness and perceived trust can impact customer satisfaction. Consequently, it is recommended that the retail sector in Malaysia places greater emphasis on enhancing the convenience and service quality in online shopping, continuously elevating service standards to ensure customer satisfaction. Despite the findings showing that price and perceived trust have no significant impact on behavioral intentions in this study, they still have a favorable effect. Therefore, it is advisable for the Malaysian retail industry to enhance its pricing strategies and online security measures.

A CatBoost-Based Approach for High-Accuracy Botnet Detection

The rising prevalence of network botnet attacks poses a significant threat to online security. Compromised networks controlled by malicious entities can perpetrate harm, including distributed denial of service attacks and data theft. In this study, we introduce a method to detect these botnets using the CatBoostClassifier. By analyzing network traffic for suspicious patterns, our system efficiently identifies potential botnet activities. Utilizing the CTU-13 dataset, we achieved an impressive 99.8699% accuracy, underscoring the efficacy of our approach. This research offers valuable insights into botnet attack detection and presents a robust solution for enhancing network security.

SAT184 Improving Access To Osteoporosis Specialists Using Electronic Consultations

Abstract Disclosure: C. Sethuram: None. W. Brown: None. G. Gill: None. C. Liddy: None. A. Afkham: None. E. Keely: None. Background: Timely access to osteoporosis specialists remains a challenge in Canada, where patients face long wait times for specialist care. Electronic consultations (eConsults) help address this issue by allowing primary care providers (PCPs) to pose clinical questions to specialists using a secure online platform. This study identifies the types of osteoporosis-related questions being asked by PCPs and describes the impact of the advice provided by osteoporosis specialists using eConsult. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of osteoporosis-related eConsults submitted to endocrinologists between January 2018 and December 2020 on the Champlain BASE™ eConsult Service in Ontario, Canada. Each eConsult was coded according to clinical question and answer type through consensus between two authors, based on pre-determined taxonomies established by the reviewers. We analyzed eConsult utilization data, including response times, PCP satisfaction, and referral outcomes, which were collected via PCP surveys following completion of the eConsult. Results: Of the 2534 eConsults sent to endocrinologists during the study period, 408 (16%) were specific to osteoporosis. The most common questions asked by PCPs were regarding whether or not to start treatment (18%), the initial therapy choice (13%), and how often to complete bone mineral density scans (8%). The most common responses from specialists included recommendations for bone mineral density scanning (13%), recommendation to start therapy (9%), and recommendation to treat using a bisphosphonate without the dose specified (9%). The median response interval was 3.1 days, and the median time spent by endocrinologists responding to the eConsult was 10.0 minutes. Eighty-four percent of cases were resolved without requiring an in-person referral. A course of action that PCPs already had in mind was confirmed in 42% of cases. Clear advice for a new course of action for PCPs to implement was provided in 54% of cases. Conclusion: Osteoporosis eConsults provide timely access to valuable specialist advice while avoiding unnecessary face-to-face clinic visits. Further, we identified commonly recurring osteoporosis questions asked by PCPs, which can be used to inform planning of future continuing professional development events. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Information Sources for Investment Decisions: Evidence from Japanese Investors

Although the traditional sources of financial knowledge in Japan are financial advisors and investment groups, the digital era and artificial intelligence have made other sources of information, such as social media and mass media, more influential. As such, it has become important to examine the socioeconomic, demographic, and psychological factors influencing the use of these information sources in the context of investment decisions. However, little research has been carried out to examine such associations using a large-scale nationwide dataset. We fill this gap by utilizing a dataset comprising almost 65,000 active investors from one of the largest online security companies in Japan, ensuring the representativeness and generalizability of our results. We show that active investors are more inclined to use social media and mass media than financial advisors and investment groups. The probit regression model shows that the use of each of the four sources of information is strongly shaped by an individual’s characteristics, which, to some extent, are not mutually exclusive for each source type. The study results imply that the government should regulate and monitor the quality and accuracy of the information disseminated by mass media and social media and educate investors on how to critically evaluate and verify the information that they receive.

Fake Instagram Profile Identification and Classification Using Machine Learning

Fake Instagram profiles are a growing problem, as they can be used to spread false information, deceive people, and harass and threaten others. The project aims to develop a robust and scalable system for identifying and classifying fake Instagram profiles using machine learning. This system will collect a large and diverse dataset of Instagram profiles, both real and fake. The data will be preprocessed and cleaned, and then relevant features will be extracted. Various machine learning algorithms will be evaluated to select the best model for identifying and classifying fake Instagram profiles. The trained model will be evaluated on a hold-out test set to ensure that it is able to generalize to new data. Once the model is evaluated and deemed satisfactory, it will be deployed in a production environment to identify and classify fake Instagram profiles in real time. The system is expected to have a significant impact on the fight against fake Instagram profiles. By identifying and classifying fake Instagram profiles, the system can help make the social media platform safer and more secure for everyone.. Key Words: Profile identification, Data preprocessing, Online security, User authentication, Model training, Machine learning.

Parenting practices, bullying perpetration, and conduct problems among Ukrainian children

BackgroundPositive and consistent parenting practices are associated with the positive mental health of children. However, little is understood about the implications of the Russian military invasion on family dynamics in Ukraine. ObjectiveThis research aims to estimate the prevalence of childhood conduct disorder (CD) and bullying perpetration and their association with parenting practices among Ukrainian children living in proximity to the war. Participants and settingThe sample included 2763 Ukrainian children ranging in age from 10 to 17 years (M = 12.6, SD = 1.23), 56.23 % girls. Children attended public secondary schools in Eastern Ukraine, mostly in Kharkiv and Kharkiv oblasts (regions). MethodsChildren reported on sociodemographic characteristics, parenting practices, CD, and bullying perpetration using smartphones, computers, or tablets, at home or in school IT classrooms. Data were collected on a secure online platform. ResultsChildren reported teasing (23.68 %), spreading rumors (24.51 %), helping to harass (17.31 %), threatening to hurt or hit (21.65 %) other students, breaking rules (28.13 %), getting in fights (17.13 %), cheating (43.16 %), and being spanked by parents (30 %). Also, 1.83 % of girls and 3.43 % of boys met a borderline cutoff for CD. Lack of parent involvement was associated with increased CD and bullying risks. Poor parent monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment were associated with increased CD but not with bullying. CD mediated the association of poor monitoring, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment with bullying. ConclusionParental involvement, monitoring, consistent discipline, and avoidance of physical punishments are important practices that can reduce disruptive behavior and aggressive tendencies among Ukrainian children affected by the Russian war.

ELECTRONIC AGGRESSION AND CYBERBULLYING AS A SOCIAL THREAT - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PHENOMENON AND EDUCATION FOR ONLINE SAFETY

In recent years one can observe a dynamic development of modern technologies, especially in thearea of the media. A special place and role among them are occupied by the Internet, which is aninseparable element of practicallyevery area of human functioning. It should be borne in mind thatapart fromundeniable benefits, the Internet is also a source of many threats. The aim of the article isto identify the scale of the phenomenon of cyberbullying and to indicate to what extent individualcategories of threats concern respondents. Thanks to the conducted research, it was possible toidentify the leading causes of this phenomenon and present their consequences. In addition, thearticle contains suggestions for preventive measures aimed at increasing online security.

Online Fitness Training and Cybersecurity: Potential Threats and Prevention

In today's digital world, online communication has gained wide popularity as an effective and easy way to maintain the activity of a number of areas of life, including conducting online workouts with fitness instructors. Despite the benefits associated with online training, cybersecurity challenges are inevitably emerging that require serious attention and preventive measures. The aim of the study is to analyze the effectiveness of current online security mechanisms and policies and to identify potential threats related to online training and cybersecurity. The highest efficiency is achieved in protecting users' personal data and preventing hacker attacks. The leading potential threats are phishing attacks, misuse of personal data and malware installation. The most commonly used mechanisms achieve optimal cybersecurity, but continuous online threats require increased attention from users as well. Using strong and unique passwords for all online accounts, updating device software, using two-factor authentication and creating backups will increase the effectiveness of online security.

Specialist cancer hospital-based smoking cessation service provision in Ireland

BackgroundWhile much progress has been made in reducing tobacco use in many countries, both active and passive smoking remain challenges. The benefits of smoking cessation are universally recognized, and the hospital setting is an ideal setting where smokers can access smoking cessation services as hospital admission can be a cue to action. Consistent delivery of good quality smoking cessation care across health services is an important focus for reducing the harm of tobacco use, especially among continued smokers.AimsOur objective was to document the smoking cessation medication and support services provided by specialist adult cancer hospitals across Ireland, a country with a stated tobacco endgame goal.MethodsA cross-sectional survey based on recent national clinical guidelines was used to determine smoking cessation care delivery across eight specialist adult cancer tertiary referral university hospitals and one specialist radiotherapy center. Survey responses were collected using Qualtrics, a secure online survey software tool. The data was grouped, anonymized, and analyzed in Microsoft Excel.ResultsAll responding hospitals demonstrated either some level of smoking cessation information or a service available to patients. However, there is substantial variation in the type and level of smoking cessation information offered, making access to smoking cessation services inconsistent and inequitable.ConclusionThe recently launched National Clinical Guideline for smoking cessation provides the template for all hospitals to ensure health services are in a position to contribute to Ireland’s tobacco endgame goal.

Privacy Audit of Public Access Computers and Networks at a Public College Library

In 2021, the assessment-data management librarian at Lehman College Library decided to conduct a privacy audit of the Library’s public computers and networks. This audit comprised one of the Library’s two annual formal assessments of resources and services. The American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Privacy Checklist for Public Access Computers and Networks was selected to review 17 key items related to protecting user privacy and confidentiality. Faculty and staff from Circulation, Library Technology, and Online Learning identified 10 indicators needing work. Suggestions are provided for collaboratively resolving these issues and future steps are described to continuously maximize the online security of the campus community.