Latent groups of cybersecurity preparedness in Europe: Sociodemographic factors and country-level contexts

摘要

The increase of people's online presence creates additional cybersecurity threats. Cybersecurity preparedness is increasingly important to minimize and mitigate cybersecurity-related victimization. This study explores how cybersecurity preparedness is shaped by socio-structural factors across thirty European samples. We analyzed survey items measuring purchase behavior, user's security settings, software settings, and trust in websites from the 2014 Eurobarometer (N=26,879). The findings of latent class analysis show three groups based on members' cybersecurity preparedness: uninformed users, disciplined users, and cautious users. The determinants of cybersecurity preparedness were examined using two-level hierarchical logit modeling. While sociodemographic factors modestly contribute to cybersecurity preparedness at an individual level, country-level economic status (GDP per capita) and cybersecurity preparedness (Global Cybersecurity Index) appear to be significant for individual-level cybersecurity preparedness. In countries with higher cybersecurity preparedness and economic status, individuals tend to show a higher level of cybersecurity preparedness. Implications for government agencies and corporations are discussed.