CyberGuardians
Creating and understanding CyberGuardians in communities
Partners
Project Lead
James Nicholson, Northumbria UniversityProject Type
Funded ProjectOlder adults are targeted by internet scammers due to their lower digital literacy and limited computer support network. This project worked with 14 older adults to train them to share reliable cybersecurity information with their peers to help prevent opportunistic cyber-attacks. The CyberGuardians received training looking at different aspects of cybersecurity including live demonstrations of password hacking, and a phishing test. The topics focused on issues the group identified, such as password management, scam detection and protective software.
The CyberGuardians went on to disseminate cybersecurity information to around 820 people through peer-to-peer learning over the course of nine months. When Covid-19 hit, the CyberGuardians moved online and helped many older citizens to stay safe during the phishing increase and gave advice on using Zoom securely so they could stay in touch with family and friends.
The CyberGuardians also appeared on BBC Look North
Training and Embedding Cybersecurity Guardians in Older Communities. CHI ’21: Proceedings of the 2021 CHI Conference:
CyberGuardians: Improving Community Cyber Resilience Through Embedded Peer-to-Peer Support. DIS’ 20 Companion: Companion Publication of the 2020 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference:
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