Saudi citizens' awareness of cyber protection methods

الملخص EN

In the context of increasing cyber threats with increasing internet usage with a variety of devices world over and in Saudi Arabia, there is urgent need to understand the level of awareness and knowledge about cyber threats and protection practices adopted by Saudi citizens.

The government and the internet providers can then adopt strategies to enhance awareness and protection methods by the Saudi citizens.

Some studies are available in other countries, but not many in Saudi Arabia.

Hence, this study was planned with the primary aim of measuring the current status awareness and protection methods adopted by Saudi citizens on cyber threats of various types.

The ultimate purpose was to recommend some strategies on both these aspects.

Responses of 389 online participants of a survey using appropriate questions were statistically analysed to obtain some answers as follows.

Younger female well-educated Saudi citizens dominated in internet usage.

They used internet for various personal and work purposes, with social media dominating.

Most of them had been using workplace computers for accessing internet mainly by private and mobile or cellular networks rather than public wi-fi.

Majority of them had experience beyond 5 years of using internet; yet they consider themselves as moderate in its expertise.

Smartphones were the most common device used to access the internet.

Most of them reported they never had a cyber threat.

Therefore, only a few of them reported about it.

A variety of methods are used by Saudi citizens for protection from cyber threats, none dominating significantly.

A variety of security practices are also used by a majority of Saudi citizens.

Most of them choose automatic updates to their antivirus software.

People who have knowledge about various cyber threats dominated over those who are just aware of them.

The Saudi citizens use many different sources of information to update them about cyber threats.

This information leads them to be concerned about the threat and believe that the threat will continue so and attain more serious levels in future.

The responsibility to enhance protection strategies needs to be shared among all stakeholders involved in internet usage in Saudi Arabia, with the dominant role for the government with laws, regulations and controlling organisations.

Some strategies have been recommended to enhance awareness and protection practices.

Some limitations of this study have also been listed.