EXPLORING CYBERCRIME VICTIMIZATION THROUGH INTERNET SECURITY BEHAVIORS AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

Abstract

This study examines how internet security concerns and protective behaviors relate to cybercrime victimization using secondary data from the Eurobarometer 77.2 survey. The analysis focuses on four online security behaviors: avoiding online banking, limiting personal information shared online, visiting only trusted websites, and using only personal computers, along with demographic factors such as age and gender. Results show that younger generations, particularly Generation Z and Millennials, report higher levels of victimization compared to older groups, and men are more likely to be victims than women. Unexpectedly, certain protective behaviors such as limiting personal information shared and visiting trusted websites are paradoxically linked to higher risks of victimization. By contrast, using only personal computers is associated with lower risk. These findings highlight that common security practices may create a false sense of safety rather than reduce vulnerability. The study emphasizes the importance of examining how demographic factors and online behaviors interact in shaping cybercrime risks, and it provides insights for developing more effective awareness campaigns and policies.