A cyber-attack is a malicious and deliberate attempt by cyber criminals to breach information against a single or multiple networks using one or more computers. The COVID - 19 pandemic is not only a health issue; it also leads to an increase in cyber-attacks on people who work from home during lockdown. According to a report on lockdown, 40 percent of society appears to be using data, including performing day-to-day tasks such as shopping, banking, watching content, and socializing. This research focuses on India, which has 77 internet users. According to the study's findings, users spend more than 4 hours per day on the internet with their smartphones. They primarily use the internet for entertainment purposes. The majority of respondents have always preferred to use WhatsApp messenger. In addition, respondents are aware of a phishing/hacking attack in the app during the lockdown period. Users strongly agree that the best way to avoid cyber-attacks is to install known/authenticated software on their smartphones/computers/tablets/laptops during the COVID lockdown period.
2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors. activities, entertainment and social activities. On April 28, 2020, cyber security researchers at the UK-based Sophos has found out that the person hacking are now focusing the individuals across the globe through the false e-mails, web link as Zoom HR and videos like organizing the meetings for salary hike for getting access to their personal details.
As a result, this research focuses on the role of social media apps and cyber-attacks in the digital platform and during the Corona lockdown period. 1.1.
A cyber-attack is an attempt by cyber criminals to hack into each individual's data via various systems all over the world. Morahan-Martin, J., Schumacher, P. (2003) Cyber attackers’ use different plan of action to utilize, duplicate, and destroy many private as well as Government Sector detail in the world of digitalization. In the modern era of digital world, businesspeople have to be vigilant of increasing unprotected environment in terms of cyber threats and its security issues. 1.2.
The present literature relating to the cyber-attacks in the automated world and during the COVID19 lockdown period it has been considerably increased. This study identified the gap by creating an awareness of the various cyber-attacks and few measures to the India Internet Users to avoid the cyber-attacks during the pandemic lockdown period. Lee, K.-T., Noh, M.-J., Koo, D.-M. (2013) Thus, this study has focused on the three important aspects of Internet Behavior as well as preference of using the social media apps, awareness on cyber-attacks and measures to overcome the cyber-attacks in this current situation. 1.3.
Research Purpose 1. To analyze the frequency of preference to use various social media applications on theinternet activities during COVID – 19 lockdown and normal period. 2. To know the level of awareness of cyber-attacks through the internet/ applications duringCOVID – 19 Lockdown. 3. To identify the measures to overcome the cyber-attacks by the users during the coronalockdown time at India. 1.4.
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There is no association between the age of the respondents over the preference of the usingthe WhatsApp during the lockdown period.
There is no influence of the educational qualification over the measures to overcome thecyber-attacks at the lockdown time.
Study Area: This study is done in India.
1. Sample Size: 77. 2. Sample Technique: Simple Random and Convenient Sampling Technique. The popular social media app is taken according to the study undertaken in Mobile App usage in lock down. (Madhav Chanchani and Digbhijay Mishra) 3. Data Collection: Primary Data and Secondary Data. The Primary Data is collected throughthe well-structured questionnaire created through Google form. The Secondary
Data is collected from the News Article, Journals, Websites and Magazines. 4. Data Analysis: The statistical tools applied in this study are Percentage Analysis, Chi
Square, ANOVA, T-Test and Regression. 2.1.
95% Confidence Interval of the
Difference
The table 1 reveals that apps 59.34, 44.31, 34.43, 28.92, 26.33, 25.19, 23.80, 22.76,21.93, and 21.49 are statistically significant at the 5 percent level. This indicates that the respondents are always preferred to use Whatsapp (4.468) during the COVID 19 lockdown time and they also frequently prefer to use to YouTube, Music Apps like Wynk, MX Player, Official/ Learning Apps (Byju, Vedanta) and Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., Lampe, C. (2007) Facebook.
Further, it reveals that the respondents are occasionally preferred to use Tiktok, Arogya Setu, GPay, and Zoom app. Finally, the respondents rarely prefer to access the PUBG during the COVID 19 lockdown time since 24th March, 2020 till May 1st week. As per the data analyzed by Nielsen and BARC the social media apps user base increased by 25% (Whatsapp tops by +27%). This study also identified that the majority of the respondent preference is Whatsapp. 95% Confidence Interval of the
Difference Phishing/Hacking Spyware Malware Ransom ware Denial of Service 2.68 2.48
The table 2 denotes that 43.733, 33.70, 33.41, 25.77, and 20.61 are statistically significant at the 5 percent level. This implies that the respondents are well aware of Phishing/ Hacking in the social media/ Mobile Apps during the lockdown period. Further, it denotes that the respondents are aware of spyware, Malware and Denial of Service attacks in the social media/ Mobile Apps. Finally, the respondents do not have much awareness towards Ransom ware attacks in the social media/ Mobile Apps. Ledbetter, A. M., Mazer, J. P., DeGroot, J. M., Meyer, K. R., Mao, Y., Swafford, B. (2011) The report released in the Times of India dated on 11th April, 2020 also identified that Phishing attacks are increasing during the corona lockdown period in the Banking Transactions.
It has given warning to the customers to protect their CVV/ PIN number against the Phishing. Another report on 4th April, 2020 released by the Times of India has mentioned that Hackers are attacking the employees working from home. Thus, this study has identified that the maximum number of respondents is highly aware of Phishing/ Hacking during the corona lockdown period.
Test Value = 0 95% Confidence Interval of the
Difference
The table 3 indicated that 66.52, 64.95, 46.87, 46.25, 44.71, and 41.07 are statistically significant at the 5 percent level. Hence, the respondents strongly agree that they should install the known/ authenticated security software’s in their Computers/ Smartphones, not to reveal their CVV/ PIN/ Account Number/ any other personal details to unknown people and do not download the unknown attachments or files from the e-mails to avoid the cyber-attacks during normal days and especially during a corona lockdown time. Carpenter, J. M., Green, M. C., LaFlam, J. (2011), Vogel, E. A., Rose, J. P., Okdie, B. M., Eckles, K., Franz, B. (2015) It has also indicated that the respondents agree towards reporting to the Bank official immediately about the suspicion/ doubtful calls, calling to the toll-free numbers/ to cybercrime official for the cyber-attacks and avoiding to download unknown apps in the mobile like any desk, quick support and so on to overcome the cyber-attacks during this lockdown time.
It is found from the above table that R= .346, R Square=.120, Adjusted R Square=.108, Std. Error=1.102. This shows that the awareness of Phishing/ Hacking by the respondents created a variance of 10.8%. This leads to the following ANOVA table.
From the above table it is observed that F=10.179; P=.002 is statistically significant at the 5 percent level. It indicates that the respondents are aware of the Phishing/ Hacking attacks. This leads to following coefficient table.
Df 1 75 76
It is inferred from the above table that the level of awareness towards Phishing/ hacking attack (Beta=.346; B=3.190; P=.002) is statistically significant at the 5 percent level. This indicates the respondents always accessing the Facebook are highly aware towards the Phishing/ Hacking attacks during the corona lockdown period. Bessière, K., Kiesler, S., Kraut, R., Boneva, B. S. (2008) The level of Phishing/ Hacking awareness varies according to the respondent preference towards access the Facebook.
Model
Variables 1
Regression Residual Total
Sum of Squares
These are suggested recommendations from this study: • • • •
More awareness has to be created regarding the ransom ware attacks and Denial of Service(DOS) for those who are working from home.
The customers must be educated to approach Bank officials in case of any suspicious call/ doubtful call regarding inquiry of account details.
The cybercrime cell has to frequently announce its toll-free numbers/ helpline numbers in case of any cyber-attacks. The customers must be encouraged to report to the cybercrime toll numbers/ websites immediately regarding the cyber-attacks. The customers must be constantly informed about the various mobile apps being attacked by the hackers.
The cybercrime and cyber-attacks are started increasing in the last decade due to the entrance of technology like computer, internet, automation, online payments, and so on. This paved the way to increase in the user rate of the technology and utilization of automated/ digital products. Hence, the cyber-attacks are started increasing as the penetration of internet, smartphone, social media apps users rate are increasing. The people are also started to work from home during the COVID 19 lock down period, so the hackers/ phishing, ransom ware increased and they started focusing on people who are working from home as well as operating banking transactions through online/ mobile. Thus, this study focus is to analyze the internet behaviours of India consumers and creates awareness of various cyberattacks. Finally, this study suggests few measures to overcome these attacks during this pandemic lockdown and normal period.
The profile of the India internet users consists of the female. Most of the consumers were in between the age group of 21-30 years, possessing an educational qualification of post-Graduation. They are working in the Private Organizations/ Sector/ Banks in the area of Finance, Research Analyst, and Travels and so on. Their annual income is less than Rs. 5,00,000 and marital status is single.
The internet behaviours of India people are spending more than 4 hours per day; they are accessing the internet through their smartphones/ mobile phones and the main reason for the using theinternet is entertainment. The respondents always prefer to use the Whatsapp. White, J. B., Langer, E. J., Yariv, L., Welch, J. C. (2006) They are highly aware of phishing/ hacking attacks of the social media app. Moreover, the respondents strongly agree to install the known/ authenticated security software’s in their Smartphones/ Tablets/ Laptop/ Computers. The Facebook users are aware of the phishing/ hacking attacks. Chou, H.-T. G., Edge, N. (2012) There is no association between the respondents age over the usage of Whatsapp. There is no influence of educational qualification over the measures to overcome the cyber-attacks.
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The similar research of cyber-attacks can be carried in the Banking Sector.
The Cyber Crime research can be done in the future as an individual study on social media, Mobile Apps, and e-mails. [1] Baumeister, R. F., Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 497–529. doi: