Article Review 1: Extending Cybersecurity Education to Non-English Speaking Communities as Discussed in “The Need for a Cybersecurity Education Program for Internet Users with Limited English Proficiency: Results from a Pilot Study”
Introduction:
This article is about a study on the lack of cybersecurity awareness resources and training for American citizens with little to no knowledge of the English language. The study researches “
Internet users with limited English proficiency (LEP)” (Ngo et al., 2024, #3) and if dedicated training in languages they understand can improve their safety online.
Hypothesis:
The study is essentially testing the hypothesis of if LEP communities receive training in Cybersecurity awareness and protection in languages they better understand, then their security online will increase. This study specifically focuses on Spanish- and Vietnamese-Speaking communities because of their large demographic in America.
Research Methods:
The study was conducted in several phases. First, participants were given a pretest questionnaire to rank their confidence in various cybersecurity concerns including “the importance of having strong passwords, why you should not share your passwords… what to do if you are a victim of cybercrime, etc.” (Ngo et al., 2024, #5). After receiving 4 modules educating on defensive measures to protect themselves online, participants retook the questionnaire and discussed in focus groups how the experience affected them and what changes they want to see to empower their communities.
Data and Analysis:
The study found that “cyber safety education can help increase users’ knowledge about Internet safety and change their cybersecurity behaviors,” and reported that many “Hispanic and Vietnamese participants… indicated that they intended to adopt the recommended cybersecurity practices presented in the educational modules” (Ngo et al. 2024, #16). The study proved the hypothesis that training in the respective languages would improve cybersecurity skills and raise awareness.
Societal Contributions:
This study’s societal contributions are directly tied to the marginalized groups of LEP’s studied. Early in the study, the researchers discuss how members of LEP communities “
tended to depend on their family and friends rather than governmental websites to obtain relevant information and guidance on cybersecurity matters” (Ngo et al. 2024, #4). This study shows the need for more efforts to spread Cybersecurity education outside of English-speaking communities to empower and protect marginalized groups and the effectiveness of said efforts.
Relation to Social Sciences:
This paper is related to 3 major social sciences. Sociology because it studied different community groups skills and social behaviors online. Criminology because its purpose is to reduce victimization. Lastly, political science because the paper recommends government programs like Online Research Centers to be readily accessible to LEP communities.
Conclusion
This study, relating to our class concepts of social sciences, different types of data research, and victim behaviors, proved the need for increased cybersecurity training in various languages to prevent the victimization of non-English speaking communities.
References
Ngo, F. T., Deryol, R., Turnbull, B., & Drobisz, J. (2024, 2 29). The Need for a Cybersecurity Education Program for Internet Users with Limited English Proficiency: Results from a Pilot Study. International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime, 7(1), 1-22. https://vc.bridgew.edu/ijcic/vol7/iss1/2/