Cyber Security and COVID-19: Understanding Cyber Predators and Vulnerabilities for Teenagers

Cyber Security and COVID-19: Understanding Cyber Predators and Vulnerabilities for Teenagers

Festus Elleh
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 14
DOI: 10.4018/IJSSSP.302623
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Abstract

An increasing number of teenagers are now using the internet through their computers, phones, ipads, ipods, laptops, tablets, etc. In the era of COVID-19, where School kids do home schooling using the internet, the number of teenagers using the web will be higher and their presence online will increase. The internet can be a major channel for their education, creativity, and self-expression. However, it also carries a spectrum of cyber risks to which teenagers are more vulnerable than adults. This paper focuses on online risks for teenagers under COVID-19 era and how to protect them from cyber predators. It examines direct and indirect precautionary measures available to these innocent teenagers and their parents to help mitigate online vulnerabilities. The paper believes that, to enhance the policy to protect teenagers online, governments and School Districts should enhance the coherence of their policy measures and tools in collaboration with parents, caregivers, educators, businesses, and civil societies.
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Purpose Of The Study

The purpose of this article is to create awareness for teenagers, school children, parents, teachers, and other care givers about the dangers of the internet for kids as COVID-19 is forcing more school children to study online. The paper investigates online risks and predatory cyber behaviors for teenagers and seeks to uncover precautionary measures available to these innocent teenagers and their parents to help mitigate online vulnerabilities. The USA and other countries around the World have seen a spike in another wave of coronavirus infections and deaths. But the kids have been home for a long time. Parents, School Districts, and government at all levels would like the kids to go back to school. The realities of the risk of back to school for kids have forced these policy makers to offer home schooling using online resources and computer networks for kids. This situation may cause kids to use Google, YouTube, and other online technologies on a regular basis of their homework, assignments, projects, and other school work. The long presence these kids will have online will come with a price - the possibility of being hacked or groomed by cyber predators. This paper will present the scenarios and examples of kids being hacked or groomed; explore types of attack, create awareness for kids, parents, and School administration and recommend mitigation strategies and best practices.

Research Question

  • RQ1. Will COVID-19 home schooling increase internet usage for teenagers?

  • RQ1. What is the relationship between internet use and cyber vulnerability?

  • RQ2. Are teenagers more vulnerable to cyber-attack than adults?

Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses will guide this study:

  • H01: There will be no relationship between COVID-19 home schooling and increased internet usage by teenagers.

  • HA1: There will be a relationship between COVID-19 home schooling and increases internet usage by teenagers.

  • H02: There will be no relationship between internet use and cyber vulnerability

  • HA2: There will be a relationship between internet use and cyber vulnerability

  • H03: Teenagers are not more vulnerable to cyber-attack than adults?

  • HA3: Teenagers are more vulnerable to cyber-attack than adults?

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