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Twelfth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2018)

Twelfth International Symposium on Human Aspects of Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2018)
Dundee, Scotland, UK, August 29-31, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-244-40254-9

Title: Investigating the Knowledge-Behaviour Gap in Mitigating Personal Information Compromise
Author(s): Jasmine Scott, Jacques Ophoff
Reference: pp236-245
Keywords: Information Security; Personal Information Compromise; Behavioural Skills; Motivation; Preventive Behaviour; Knowledge-Behaviour Gap; Information-Motivation-Behavioural (IMB) Skills Model
Abstract: In response to information threats users instinctively increase security measures, such as firewalls and anti-virus software. However, users do not give enough attention to their behaviour, more specifically, their security behavioural practices. This paper proposes that the knowledge-behaviour gap affects a user’s security behavioural practices and this, in effect, threatens personal information security. The knowledge-behaviour gap assesses why users do not put their information security and privacy knowledge into practice. The Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills Model is used to highlight the different factors which affect the knowledge-behaviour gap, with empirical data collected using an online survey. Despite the wide conformity of opinions within literature, a key finding of this research is that users’ awareness of information security threats has an insignificant effect on their self-reported preventive behaviour. The significance of this finding is that users require a deeper technical understanding of information security threats to engage in effective preventive behaviour.
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