Non-English speaking internet users are concerned about cyber threats and online safety just like anyone else. However, they have difficulty accessing culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, which also makes it challenging to collect accurate data on cyber victimization among vulnerable populations. Fawn Ngo, a criminologist at the University of South Florida, was inspired to conduct her latest research after being interviewed on a Vietnamese language network in California.ims of cybercrime.” After this, she started getting calls from people sharing their stories of being victimized. Ngo, who is an associate professor at the USF College of Behavioral and Community Sciences, said, “Some of the stories were really sad and heartbreaking.” These stories made her think about how cybersecurity information and resources are available to non-English speakers. She investigated further and found that there was very limited or no information and resources available. This study is considered the first to look at the connection between demographic characteristics and cybercrime.Ngo and her colleagues conducted a study on cyber hygiene practices and cyber victimization among limited English proficiency internet users. The lead author’s article, “Cyber Hygiene and Cyber Victimization Among Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Internet Users: A Mixed-Method Study,” was recently published in the journal Victims & Offenders. The co-authors of the article are Katherine Holman, a graduate student at USF and former Georgia state prosecutor, and Anurag Agarwal, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University specializing in information systems, analytics, and supply chain. The study, which specifically focused on Spanish and Vietnamese speakers, resulted in two closely related findings.connected main takeaways:
- LEP Internet users have the same worries about cyber threats and the same need for online safety as anyone else. However, they face limitations due to a lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, which also makes it difficult to accurately gather data on cyber victimization among vulnerable populations.
- The most effective educational tools and reporting forms for online guidance are only accessible in English. This is evident in the website for the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which is the FBI’s main tool for addressing cybercrime.
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The study revealed that many LEP users, despite having good intentions, still take risks online, such as using unsecured networks and sharing passwords. For instance, only 29% of the participants in the study’s focus group avoided using public Wi-Fi in the past 12 months, and only 17% said they had antivirus software installed on their devices.
Prior research mentioned in Ngo’s paper has indicated that underserved populations have less knowledge about cybersecurity and experience worse outcomes, often falling victim to computer viruses and hacked accounts, including social media accounts. O
Ngo explained that the lack of awareness and understanding regarding cybersecurity is often not due to disinterest. She also mentioned that cybersecurity experts believe that humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. Ngo emphasized the importance of ensuring that all members of society, regardless of their language skills, are well-informed about the risks in the cyber world in order to secure our digital borders.
She also highlighted the necessity of providing cyber hygiene information and resources in various formats, such as visual aids and audio guides, to cater to the diverse literacy levels within LEP communities.Additional research is necessary to fill the existing security gap and guarantee fair access to cybersecurity resources for all Internet users. In the meantime, Ngo is getting ready to introduce a website containing cybersecurity information and resources in various languages, as well as a link for reporting victimization. Ngo expressed hope that cybersecurity information and resources will be just as accessible in other languages as important health and safety information. Additionally, Ngo wants limited English proficiency (LEP) victims to be included in national data and statistics on cybercrime, and for their experiences to be accurately represented.The article addresses the issue of cyber hygiene and cyber victimization among limited English proficiency (LEP) internet users. The study was conducted using a mixed-method approach. The journal reference for this article is: Fawn T. Ngo, Anurag Agarwal, Katherine Holman. “Cyber Hygiene and Cyber Victimization Among Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Internet Users: A Mixed-Method Study”. Victims & Offenders, 2024; 1 DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2024.2329765.