Projects / Programmes
Safety and security of cyberspace users - criminological, victimological and preventative perspectives
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.07.00 |
Social sciences |
Criminology and social work |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S160 |
Social sciences |
Criminology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
Safety, security, cybercrime, victimization, fear of crime, awareness raising, crime prevention
Researchers (6)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
16312 |
PhD Igor Bernik |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
657 |
| 2. |
37531 |
PhD Rok Hacin |
Criminology and social work |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
219 |
| 3. |
34047 |
PhD Blaž Markelj |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
237 |
| 4. |
14289 |
PhD Gorazd Meško |
Criminology and social work |
Head |
2018 - 2020 |
1,840 |
| 5. |
38302 |
PhD Kaja Prislan Mihelič |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
271 |
| 6. |
33190 |
PhD Simon Vrhovec |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Researcher |
2018 - 2020 |
198 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
According to many international professional organisations and cybercrime researchers, the number of cybercrime cases exceeds the number of violent and financial crimes, and the economic consequences of organised drug and human trafficking. Its prevalence can be attributed to the optimistic bias and poor awareness of cyberspace users. The factors of user vulnerability to cybercrime and motivation to use self-protective measures have not been studied in detail. In dealing with cybercrime, the gaps in its criminological explanation also pose a problem as existing models of victimisation of cyberspace users and their fear of cybercrime have not been systematically investigated. The past studies of cybercrime are further hindered by the absence of uniform typologies (i.e. taxonomies) and the allegedly sizeable dark field of cybercrime. The purpose of the project is to analyse the extent of cybercrime and users' risk factors in order to make recommendations for state authorities (e.g., the Police, SI-CERT) and non-governmental organizations – NGOs (e.g., Safe.si, ISACA, Cloud Security Alliance) aiming to improve their preventive strategies and responses to cybercrime. The project will focus on the motivation of cyberspace users for self-protection against cyberthreats, their cybercrime victimisation and their fear of it. The project objectives are to: (1) develop a novel cybercrime typology, (2) assess cybercrime victimization of cyberspace users and to assess the dark field of cybercrime, (3) identify motivational factors affecting the use of self-protection measures against cybercrime and (4) identify factors contributing to the victimisation of users in cyberspace and their fear of cybercrime, (5) develop recommendations aimed at increasing users’ awareness of cyberthreats and self-protective measures and (6) develop recommendations aimed at decreasing cybercrime victimization, and (7) disseminating results towards all relevant stakeholders. By achieving the objectives, the project will primarily contribute to the effectiveness of building awareness of cyberspace users by the state authorities and NGOs and their strategies to decrease cybercrime victimisation. The key results of the project are (1) a novel cybercrime typology, (2) cybercrime victimization analysis, (3) dark field of cybercrime analysis, (4) a novel model of motivational factors affecting the use of self-protection measures against cybercrime, (5) a novel model of factors contributing to the victimisation of users in cyberspace and their fear of cybercrime, (6) recommendations aimed at increasing users’ awareness, (7) recommendations aimed at decreasing cybercrime victimisation, and (8) disseminate project results to national authorities and NGOs, and (9) disseminate research results to the scientific community. To achieve the results, the project will follow a well-defined methodology. First, a comparative analysis will be conducted to develop a novel cybercrime typology that will be the basis for an empirical investigation of cybercrime victimization at the national level and for comparison with official statistics in order to assess the dark field of cybercrime. After the selection of the most problematic types of cybercrime and the most effective self-protective measures during the focus groups with state authorities, NGOs and international researchers, two international empirical studies will be conducted to identify motivational factors, and factors of cybercrime victimisation and fear of cybercrime. Recommendations aimed at improving the awareness of cyberspace users and at decreasing cybercrime victimisation will be developed through focus groups involving state authorities, NGOs and international researchers. In addition to the project team, state authorities, NGOs and international researchers will be included in the project activities.
Significance for science
The impact on the development of science will be seen in:
· A new model of victimization and fear of cybercrime, in which factors that influence the vulnerability of cyberspace users and their fear of cybercrime will be defined. By testing the applicability of criminological theories to explain the victimisation, gaps in existing knowledge will be identified and new insights to complement the theories will be formed. At the same time, factors affecting the fear of cybercrime will be identified.
· A new model of motivation for using self-protection measures against cybercrime that will upgrade existing models by integrating socio-psychological factors, such as psychological reactance and resistance to change. Existing theories on the motivation for self-protection and motivation to use self-protection measures will be upgraded with relevant psycho-sociological concepts.
· A new cybercrime typology, based on a systematic analysis of existing cybercrime typologies, will allow comparative analyses of research, where various typologies were used, and implementation of longitudinal studies of victimisation with cybercrime.
· An assessment of the prevalence of users’ victimisation in cyberspace with individual forms of cybercrime. Using the questionnaire for measuring victimisation of cyberspace users and their fear of cybercrime, based on the developed cybercrime typology, the implementation of longitudinal studies will be enabled.
· An assessment of the dark field of various forms of cybercrime will enable the comparison with the dark field of ordinary crime and the identification of forms of cybercrime with the largest dark field.
· The dissemination of results in the scientific community, primarily through publications in scientific journals and conferences. The results will be presented at the international conferences, such as Central European Cybersecurity Conference and European Society of Criminology Conference.
The impact on the development of practice will be seen in:
· The forming of recommendations to state authorities and NGOs for the development of cybercrime prevention strategies. The recommendations will be based on the identified factual situation regarding the vulnerability of cyberspace users, factors of victimisation and fear of crime, as well as, motivational factors for the use of self-protection measures against cybercrime. Moreover, the recommendation may be of use for practitioners and interested individuals in designing courses and lectures on users’ cybersecurity for the general public and their own staff.
· The presentation of project results to key stakeholders (state authorities, NGOs, and interested individuals) at focus groups, conferences and workshops. This will ensure the transfer of knowledge on the factors that influence users’ vulnerability in cyberspace and their motivation to use self-protection measures against cybercrime, to institutions and subjects, who are responsible for providing cybersecurity.
Significance for the country
The impact on the development of science will be seen in:
· A new model of victimization and fear of cybercrime, in which factors that influence the vulnerability of cyberspace users and their fear of cybercrime will be defined. By testing the applicability of criminological theories to explain the victimisation, gaps in existing knowledge will be identified and new insights to complement the theories will be formed. At the same time, factors affecting the fear of cybercrime will be identified.
· A new model of motivation for using self-protection measures against cybercrime that will upgrade existing models by integrating socio-psychological factors, such as psychological reactance and resistance to change. Existing theories on the motivation for self-protection and motivation to use self-protection measures will be upgraded with relevant psycho-sociological concepts.
· A new cybercrime typology, based on a systematic analysis of existing cybercrime typologies, will allow comparative analyses of research, where various typologies were used, and implementation of longitudinal studies of victimisation with cybercrime.
· An assessment of the prevalence of users’ victimisation in cyberspace with individual forms of cybercrime. Using the questionnaire for measuring victimisation of cyberspace users and their fear of cybercrime, based on the developed cybercrime typology, the implementation of longitudinal studies will be enabled.
· An assessment of the dark field of various forms of cybercrime will enable the comparison with the dark field of ordinary crime and the identification of forms of cybercrime with the largest dark field.
· The dissemination of results in the scientific community, primarily through publications in scientific journals and conferences. The results will be presented at the international conferences, such as Central European Cybersecurity Conference and European Society of Criminology Conference.
The impact on the development of practice will be seen in:
· The forming of recommendations to state authorities and NGOs for the development of cybercrime prevention strategies. The recommendations will be based on the identified factual situation regarding the vulnerability of cyberspace users, factors of victimisation and fear of crime, as well as, motivational factors for the use of self-protection measures against cybercrime. Moreover, the recommendation may be of use for practitioners and interested individuals in designing courses and lectures on users’ cybersecurity for the general public and their own staff.
· The presentation of project results to key stakeholders (state authorities, NGOs, and interested individuals) at focus groups, conferences and workshops. This will ensure the transfer of knowledge on the factors that influence users’ vulnerability in cyberspace and their motivation to use self-protection measures against cybercrime, to institutions and subjects, who are responsible for providing cybersecurity.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
