KYBS3040 Cyber Security Psychology (5 op)

The psychology of the user is important but has been largely overlooked for many years. Through understanding the user, and how they engage with cyber security, will only bring positive changes to organizational security, and to public safety. This course provides an overview of how the psychology of users are influenced by cyber security, and how cyber security is affected by the psychology of users. Psychological-, cognitive-, behavioural-, social-, and neuro- science perspectives, will be applied to understand users and their individual differences, and understand criminals, crimes, and attacks. This will be examined through the context of at the environment in which it happens, and examining what makes the online world different to the offline world.

• Introduction to user psychology
• Individual differences and cyber security
• Digital inclusion
• Trust and privacy
• Security-related technostress
• Authentication, psychology, and inclusion
• Psychology of social engineering
• Psychological aspects in cyber terrorism.

The student will gain a good understanding of the psychology of users; the basic theories and principles in psychology that could be applied to the user interaction with cyber security.

The student will have a good knowledge of the key issues users have to face while engaging with security, and the issues cyber security professionals have to face when attempting to improve users’ security hygiene, within the home and organizational context.

It is recommended you have already completed the Information Security Management course (TJTSM51).  

Study materials will be a combination of lecture videos, academic articles, and other materials available online, including, industry reports, news articles.