Inculcating Cybersecurity Awareness Among School Students through the Application of Courseware

Abstract

Malaysians have been exposed to the internet from a young age, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 further increased internet access and gadget possession among school children due to remote learning. However, this technological progress has also brought about an increased risk of cybersecurity threats. To address this, a cybersecurity awareness courseware was developed to prepare students to utilize cyber infrastructure safely. The research paper focuses on cybersecurity awareness among secondary school students in Malaysia. With technology integration in education expanding, there was a pressing need to equip young learners with essential cybersecurity knowledge and skills. The study has been aimed at developing an interactive courseware to foster a proactive cybersecurity mindset, measuring its effectiveness using data-driven analyses while considering the country's cultural and educational context. The courseware was a web application with tailor-made modules covering topics like Wangiri, phishing, email scammer, social media scammer, and malware. It was designed in collaboration with Cybersecurity Malaysia, the authority for enhancing cybersecurity in the country. The courseware underwent a test run in a selected school, evaluating its success based on participant quiz scores. its development employed the ADDIE method, ensuring a systematic approach. The application of the courseware is expected to help increase cybersecurity awareness among school students while exposing them to cyber threats, potentially reducing the cyber-crime rate in Malaysia. The courseware has since shown promise as a potential addition to the Malaysian school curriculum as a dedicated cybersecurity module.