Information security is of vital importance to organizations. Breaches in security very often stem from behaviors of the system operator. Cyber misbehaviors on the part of employees can have devastating repercussions on the well-being of an organization. Up to now, research has mainly focused on how to protect information systems from outside attack, and only recently have researchers turned to the part the operator plays in keeping the systems safe. The present study investigated some individual differences that may play a role in people’s cyber behavior. The purpose of the study was to determine if locus of control was related to an individual’s perception of cyber risk and likelihood of engaging in cyber misbehaviors. Internal locus of control was found to be associated with higher perception of cyber risk, and higher cyber risk perception was found to lead to fewer cyber misbehaviors. The trait sensation seeking was also explored but no firm conclusions could be drawn from those results. Gaining an understanding of some of the differences between individuals that make some more likely to commit cyber misbehaviors-- as well as the dynamics behind these relationships—should be greatly beneficial in helping develop deterrents to cyber misbehavior and keeping information systems safer.

The aim of this thesis is to explore the educational aspect of the documentary film V síti (Caught in the Net) and its impact on the Czech education system. The theoretical section of the thesis focuses mainly on presenting the topic of the film - child abuse on the internet. It deals with the topic of child safety on the internet and the context of the Czech school system. The thesis has the potential to be used in the classroom by those teachers who wish engage with this topic and educate both themselves and their students as it includes a whole chapter of recommended educational projects and programs suitable for education of second level students. The research section of the thesis deals with those teachers who saw a version of the film edited to be suitable for children, V Síti: Za školou, specifically their opinions on this project as an educational tool. The qualitative research posed a question: How did the film influence the second level of elementary school teachers' approach to child safety on the internet and its teaching? The data gathering was conducted through semi-structured interviews with nine elementary school teachers. The main conclusions include the fact that the pedagogues highly value the documentary film V síti: Za školou as a new educational tool for the prevention of...

According to a 2002 National Center for Education Statistics report, 98% of schools in 2001 were connected to the Internet and 63% of public classrooms had Internet connections. According to a 2003 United States Census Bureau report, 68.3% of homes with children subscribed to the Internet. These statistics reveal the scope of access children have to the Internet. This study focused on the children's voice by investigating the children's report of their online activities and their awareness of cyber security, ethics, and safety issues. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the specific reported online activities and Internet safety knowledge of children aged 10-14 years along with their report of parental supervision of their Internet use. The study included data gathered from 446 self-administered surveys completed by 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-grade students in a rural school district in East Tennessee. An analysis of the research confirmed that as children mature, they increase their use of the Internet and their participation in unsafe online practices. The findings indicated that the most common online practices reported by the middle-grade students included emailing, social networking (MySpace), instant messaging, publishing and sharing information about their favorite sports and activities, and using secret codes while messaging with friends. The results of this study indicated significant relationships between the household placement of the computer and the frequency of unsafe online practices; students with computers in private locations reported unsafe online practices with twice the frequency of those with computers that could be monitored. The findings reflected that, in general, students were knowledgeable about unsafe Internet practices and engaged primarily in safe practices; however, many did report practices that could potentially place them at risk. The results from this study demonstrate a need for Internet safety programs to educate parents about the dangers their children face online and how to minimize those risks and to help children to gain the knowledge, decision-making skills, and motivation necessary to make safe and responsible choices when they are using the Internet.