Fourth Consecutive Scholarship to Cyber Security Student in Skövde

For the fourth consecutive time, a thesis written by a student from the Privacy, Information and Cybersecurity Master’s Programme at the University of Skövde, has received ISACA Sweden Chapter’s scholarship. The scholarship is awarded for the best thesis in IT security, IT management or IT audit. This time it was awarded to Aous Al Salek for his work on how adults in Sweden are exposed to cybercrime.

“It feels incredibly rewarding to receive this scholarship. It acknowledges the hard work and dedication I put into this research. I am especially grateful to my research supervisor, Ali Padyab, for his invaluable guidance and support throughout my academic journey,” says Aous Al Salek.

Various factors affect how victimised you are

Technology is becoming more and more integrated into our lives, and the risks associated with cybercrime are increasing. Sweden is known for its high levels of digital engagement, yet the cybercrime experiences of adults are still not sufficiently studied.

“I wanted to contribute to a deeper understanding of these issues to support enhanced preventive strategies and resilience against cyber threats.”

In his thesis, he studied cybercrime victimisation among Swedish adults, focusing on its prevalence and associated risk factors. The study examines demographic, socio-economic and behavioural factors to identify patterns and vulnerabilities in digital victimisation.

Aous Al Salek concludes that cybercrime victimisation is influenced by various factors, including gender, age, income and computer skills. Malware infections was the most common type of victimisation, followed by hacking and fraud. The results show the importance of tailored interventions to mitigate the risks, and the need for future research to explore the effectiveness of protective measures.

Did any result surprise you?
“I found it surprising that certain behavioral factors, such as higher-level protective measures, could correlate with an increased risk of specific types of victimization like malware infections. I was also intrigued by the inverse relationship between age and fraud victimisation, suggesting that younger adults are more susceptible to fraud than older ones. Another surprising finding was that the prevalence of cybercrime victimisation was significantly higher than the statistics provided by The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention. This highlights how underreported these issues may be in official records.”

The token Aous Al Salek received for being awarded the scolarship.

Studying in Skövde is fantastic

Before studying Privacy, Information and Cybersecurity Master’s Programme, Aous Al Salek studied the Bachelor's programme Network and System Administration.

“Both educations were the most comprehensive in their class compared to other universities in Sweden. They provided knowledge that translated directly into market-ready skills. Additionally, the Master’s programme, in particular, opened the door to numerous research opportunities.

How was it, studying in Skövde?
“Studying in Skövde was a fantastic experience. The University provided an excellent academic environment with supportive faculty and opportunities for collaborative learning. The PICS Collaboration Platform, a leading center nationally and recognised internationally in privacy, information security, and cybersecurity, was instrumental in fostering joint activities and innovative research. The city itself offered a peaceful yet stimulating atmosphere conducive to focused study.”

Read the student thesis Exploring cybercrime victimization among Swedish adults: A cross-sectional study on prevalence and risk factors in DiVA.