Awareness and training to increase cyber-security in university students

This paper presents a research aimed at: 1) exploring the deficiencies in cyber security that freshman university students of Information Technology (IT) undergraduate programs have, and 2) evaluating the effect that an awareness and training program designed for them would have. In this research, one group of students participated; they were surveyed before and after a training activity that was presented to them as a conference. The responses of the participants were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software, and several Wilcoxon non parametrical tests were performed to find differences before and after the event. It was found that participants could have higher levels of knowledge and safety in their daily activities; also, it was found that the conference increased the perception about cyber-security concepts and the awareness to create information back-ups more often. These preliminary results show a positive effect that encourages to implement a permanent training and awareness program.