ABSTRACT

This paper is exploratory research to 1) provide insight into how Generation Z, the cyber tech generation (born after 1990), will deal with a catastrophic cyber-attack, and 2) provide a foundation for future study with a general population. This paper examines the human dimensions: technical optimism, cyber optimistic bias, cyber self-efficacy, and general worry responses to a cyber-attack. This paper uses a revised “Stimulus-Organism-Response” theory to examine awareness of countermeasures after an attack as a method to overcome these human responses for Generation Z. This study failed to support the value and need for awareness of countermeasures “after” a catastrophic cyber-attack for Generation Z. Technical optimism and cyber self-efficacy decreased. However, reading countermeasures did not improve subjects’ optimism and self-efficacy after attack reading. Future research needs to look at a general population awareness training of countermeasures “before” a cyber-attack to see if it will over-ride the effect of a cyber-attack.

摘要

本文是探索性研究，旨在 1) 深入了解 Z 一代，即网络技术一代（出生于 1990 年之后）将如何应对灾难性的网络攻击，以及 2) 为未来的普通人群研究奠定基础。本文研究了人的维度：技术乐观、网络乐观偏见、网络自我效能和对网络攻击的一般担忧反应。本文使用修订后的“刺激-生物体-反应”理论来检验攻击后的对策意识，以此作为克服 Z 世代这些人类反应的方法。这项研究未能支持“在”攻击后对对策意识的价值和需求。 Z世代遭受灾难性网络攻击。技术乐观情绪和网络自我效能感下降。然而，阅读对策并没有提高被试在攻击性阅读后的乐观情绪和自我效能感。未来的研究需要着眼于在网络攻击“之前”对一般人群的对策意识培训，看看它是否会超越网络攻击的影响。