Cybersecurity Readiness in Developing Countries:: A Survey to Demonstrate Potential Risks of the Cambodians

Abstract

This paper presents an investigation into the challenges of cybersecurity readiness in developing countries, particularly for the different age groups of populations in Cambodia. This includes a case study through a survey to demonstrate the potential risk in Cambodia as one of the developing countries. We designed the survey questionnaire considering the theme of - what are the key issues that demonstrate users are the weakest link to cybercriminals. The questionnaire covers personal digital readiness issues related to passwords, phishing, malware, backups, security control of PCs, etc. A wide range of participants from three different age groups demonstrated their understanding of cybersecurity awareness through this survey. The data collected through this survey were analyzed and presented to demonstrate the potential risks of using digital technology in the community in developing countries. It is noted that among various challenges, many users have weaknesses in considering strong and multiple passwords, which is the most important cybersecurity concern for authentication. Finally, the research outcomes provided a recommendation for developing countries, including the demand for personalized learning platforms.