Combating digital exclusion with cybersecurity training – an interview study with Swedish seniors

• While rapid digitalization is beneficial for a majority of all people, some people struggle to adopt digital technology. Not only do these persons miss the potential benefits of digitalization, but they are also suffering from the fact that many services are no longer provided in a non-digital way. Previous research suggests that a lack of security literacy and awareness is one driving factor behind the digital exclusion for senior citizens. To that end, this research focuses on cybersecurity training for seniors. Seniors are here defined as those aged above 65. Using interviews with eight seniors, this research evaluates the use of contextual training in this user group. The rationale is that contextual training has been found to have positive results in other user groups. The results suggest that contextual cybersecurity training can increase cybersecurity awareness for senior citizens and be appreciated by the users. The participants also confirm previous research describing that cybersecurity concerns are a driving factor behind digital exclusion and that contextual cybersecurity training can make seniors more comfortable adopting digital services.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Människa-datorinteraktion (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Human Computer Interaction (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Medie- och kommunikationsvetenskap -- Systemvetenskap, informationssystem och informatik med samhällsvetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Media and Communications -- Information Systems, Social aspects (hsv//eng)

Keyword

cybersecurity awareness

senior digital exclusion

contextual training

Information Systems

Informationssystem (IS)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

kon (subject category)