Abstract
The aim of this project was to empower children to protect themselves from the leakage of sensitive information through their smartphones. The project was implemented across seven high schools in New South Wales (NSW), reaching approximately 4,460 students. To achieve its objectives, the project deployed technological devices in two of the schools to empirically measure smartphone leakage and conducted a behavioural change intervention in all seven schools to encourage safer smartphone use.
In addition to student-focused activities, the project team conducted evidence-based training workshops for IT staff, teaching staff, and parents, raising their awareness about the risks associated with smartphone data leakage. This initiative was led by a team from Charles Sturt University, including Professor of Computing Yeslam Al-Saggaf, Dr. Alan Ibbett, and Dr. Julie Maclean. The team also provided students with cyber-safety guidelines for managing their device privacy settings during the cyber security lessons.
The findings from the study, which utilised M5Stack Core 2 ESP32 as Network Sensors to capture network traffic data before and after the cyber security hands-on lessons, revealed a statistically significant difference in the volume of identifiable smartphones before and after intervention in the two schools where the sensors were deployed. This suggests that the cyber safety lessons had a positive impact on students' attitudes toward cyber safety in both schools.
Similarly, the findings from a survey of students in five high schools in NSW conducted before and after the cybersecurity lesson show that there was a significant difference in the Knowledge of Smartphone Settings questions. The findings from the survey also revealed that students developed a more cautious attitude towards using their real names on their phones and became more concerned about their whereabouts and physical safety.
In addition to student-focused activities, the project team conducted evidence-based training workshops for IT staff, teaching staff, and parents, raising their awareness about the risks associated with smartphone data leakage. This initiative was led by a team from Charles Sturt University, including Professor of Computing Yeslam Al-Saggaf, Dr. Alan Ibbett, and Dr. Julie Maclean. The team also provided students with cyber-safety guidelines for managing their device privacy settings during the cyber security lessons.
The findings from the study, which utilised M5Stack Core 2 ESP32 as Network Sensors to capture network traffic data before and after the cyber security hands-on lessons, revealed a statistically significant difference in the volume of identifiable smartphones before and after intervention in the two schools where the sensors were deployed. This suggests that the cyber safety lessons had a positive impact on students' attitudes toward cyber safety in both schools.
Similarly, the findings from a survey of students in five high schools in NSW conducted before and after the cybersecurity lesson show that there was a significant difference in the Knowledge of Smartphone Settings questions. The findings from the survey also revealed that students developed a more cautious attitude towards using their real names on their phones and became more concerned about their whereabouts and physical safety.
Original language | English |
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Place of Publication | Wagga Wagga, NSW |
Publisher | Charles Sturt University |
Commissioning body | eSafety Commissioner |
Number of pages | 90 |
Publication status | Published - 17 Sept 2024 |