Exposure to Cyber Victimization

Results from a Swiss Survey

Bibliographic Data

ID2153459
AuthorsRiccardo Milani (0000-0002-2015-7641, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland), Stefano Caneppele (0000-0003-3924-4937, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland, corresponding author), Christine Burkhardt (Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland)
Year2022
Volume43
Issue2
Pages228-240
Publication date2022-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeviant Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01639625.2020.1806453
OpenAlexW3049212860
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited18

This study tests the assumptions of the routine activity theory on three online forms of victimization: computer virus, online fraud, and unauthorized use of personal data. Data come from a representative victimization survey conducted in the Swiss city of Lugano from January 2019 to April 2019. The analysis resulted in the following conclusions. First, victims are more common among regular internet and social media users, independent of the type of crime. Second, the installation of an antivirus program is more likely to work as a protective measure to detect and disarm digital threats rather than a preventive measure that reduces the opportunity for crime to occur. Third, computer literacy is associated with a lower risk of malware victimization. Fourth, users’ characteristics partially reflect differences in internet consumption. These findings are consistent across different specifications

Computer security · Cybercrime · Data mining · Digital Literacy · Internet privacy · Malware · Measure (data warehouse · The Internet · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Psychology · Spam and Phishing Detection

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