Concerns about Cybersecurity: The Implications of the use of ICT for Citizens and Companies

Abstract

The widespread use of Information and Communication Technologies - ICT substantially increases the risks related to information security. In fact, due to the increase in the number and type of cyber attacks, Cybersecurity has become a growing concern in today's society. This phenomenon affects not only individual citizens, but also companies and even State entities. Despite the numerous advantages of this "digitalisation" of society, there are several risks, ranging from identity theft, scam emails or phone calls, online fraud, offensive material and child pornography, material promoting racial hatred or religious extremism, access to online services, email account hacking, online banking fraud, cyber extortion or malicious software. In order to determine the impact that cyber attacks have on society it is necessary to understand how people and companies use ICTs, such as social networks, the information they share, their privacy concerns, or the use of electronic services such as online payments or the cloud. This study becomes central not only to try to prevent/minimise risks, showing what has been done in this area, but more importantly, the way forward to try to prevent or minimise possible risks in the future.