Educational approach to perceptions of online risks and personal data protection
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65598/rps.6015Keywords:
Digital education, Online risks, Online frauds and scams prevention, Personal data protection, Safe and responsible use of the InternetAbstract
Online risks associated with scams or fraud involving technological devices and personal data are becoming increasingly common, so it is important to understand how citizens perceive these risks. Some studies point to training as one of the main challenges that will help address the risks and problems arising from the use of technology, which is necessary in both urban and rural areas. In this quasi-experimental mixed-method study, a risk perception scale is applied and 15 items on the perceptions of 239 citizens and their experiences focused on relationships and communication, online fraud and scams, and personal data are analyzed. The results show that citizens perceive a lot and/or too much risk in most actions and, in general, little risk in online purchases. They report problems of identity theft due to lost mobile phones, phishing, personal data processing, and others. Some of them are associated with good practices and strategies to deal with them and thus consciously avoid adopting risky behaviors in everyday situations that are increasingly common in the digital society.
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