Generation Z: Cyber-Attack Awareness Training Effectiveness

ABSTRACT

This paper is exploratory research to 1) provide insight into how Generation Z, the cyber tech generation (born after 1990), will deal with a catastrophic cyber-attack, and 2) provide a foundation for future study with a general population. This paper examines the human dimensions: technical optimism, cyber optimistic bias, cyber self-efficacy, and general worry responses to a cyber-attack. This paper uses a revised “Stimulus-Organism-Response” theory to examine awareness of countermeasures after an attack as a method to overcome these human responses for Generation Z. This study failed to support the value and need for awareness of countermeasures “after” a catastrophic cyber-attack for Generation Z. Technical optimism and cyber self-efficacy decreased. However, reading countermeasures did not improve subjects’ optimism and self-efficacy after attack reading. Future research needs to look at a general population awareness training of countermeasures “before” a cyber-attack to see if it will over-ride the effect of a cyber-attack.

KEYWORDS:

• Cyber-attack
• awareness training
• worry
• efficacy
• technology optimism
• Generation Z