Optimistic Bias and Exposure Affect Security Incidents on Home Computer

Individuals who are optimistically biased believe that they are less likely to experience an adverse event or more likely to experience a positive event than their peers. This paper examines whether individuals feel less likely to experience a breach on their home computers (cyber optimistic bias), have more computer and security education, apply protective more measures, and experience more security incidents. The study also explored whether spending more time on the computer or visiting more untrusted sites resulted in more security breaches. College students responded to a survey that measured cyber optimistic bias, technical optimism, security education, protective measures, and security incidents. Findings showed that as one’s belief that they will become a cyber-victim increases, they report experiencing more security incidents and visited more untrusted sites. In addition, visits to untrusted web sites was related to increased security incidents reported on home computers; while time spent on the computer was not related to experiencing security incidents. Finally, computer/security education had no relation to cyber optimistic bias.