The role of digital media in educating the Iraqi public about cybersecurity risks

Abstract

The research aims to identify the role of digital media in raising awareness of the Iraqi public about the risks and crimes of cyber security and to explore the impact of advanced digital media in increasing cyber security awareness among the public in Iraq and to shed light on its clear and profound effects on society's awareness of electronic risks and security challenges. This research is one of the descriptive studies as it aims to describe and analyze the role played by digital media in increasing the level of knowledge of cyber security and providing the Iraqi public with information about it. The research uses the sample survey method from the Iraqi public, numbering (400) respondents. The field study was conducted and the survey and all data were applied over the period from 2024-5/1 -1/2, including members of the Iraqi public who use modern technological means, social networks, the Internet and other modern digital means.

      The results of the study indicated a significant increase in the use of digital media by the study sample respondents, and digital media played a role in raising awareness of cybersecurity risks, as digital media had a positive role in raising awareness of crimes and risks. The results of the study show that the digital media that the public relies on to a large extent to learn about cybersecurity risks and crimes, as social networking sites came in first place in terms of respondents’ reliance on them to learn about cybersecurity crime news. The results of the study were about the most prominent cybercrimes from the point of view of the respondents from the Iraqi public, as the phrase “hacking websites” came in first place. indicated the role of digital media in combating cybersecurity risks and crimes, as the phrase “digital media helps provide information about threats and cybersecurity crimes and prevention and reduction” came in first place. The results of the study indicated the cognitive effects resulting from following up on cybersecurity risks and crimes through digital media, the study sample for cybersecurity risks and crimes, as it indicated obtaining information through digital media about cybersecurity risks. The results of the study indicated an increase in the confidence of the respondents from the Iraqi public in the published information. On digital media, and that the respondents from the public sample of the study trust the information published in the media.