Investigating the Relationship between Cyber Skills and Cyber Victim Rate

The growth of the use of technological tools in society has provided new criminal domains for cybercriminals to have access to any kind of criminal target in a single environment, thus becoming the victims of these criminals. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between cyber skills and the rate of cyber victimization and finally identify strategies for developing these skills.

In the present study, a sequential mixed method has been used. In the first stage, the quantitative survey method and a questionnaire were used and the data obtained from this stage were analyzed by structural equation modeling. The statistical population of the first stage was cyberspace users in Qom province and non-random sampling method was used to evaluate the validity of content and structure validity and to evaluate the reliability of Cronbach's alpha was used. In the second stage, the qualitative method and interview tools and the content analysis method are used to analyze the data in order to identify solutions. The statistical population of the second stage was experts in the field of research and sampling method was a judgment method that in order to evaluate the reliability of the interviews, the agreement method of two coders was used.

The results indicate the negative impact of cyber skills on the rate of cyber victimization. Basic skills, problem solving skills, and safety / legality skills have a significant negative impact on cyber victimization, but communication, information, and exchange skills do not have a significant impact on victimization rates. In the second stage, strategies for developing cyber skills appropriate to the three environments of family, school and government / community have been identified.

As cyber skills increase, Cyber Victimization decreases and family, school, and community / government play key roles in developing cyber skills. The results of the research bring theoretical innovation and help decision makers understand how to develop a safer cyberspace.