The impact of financial deprivation on children's cybersecurity knowledge & abilities

Online users require a working knowledge of password “best practice”, as well as the ability to apply such knowledge. Children increasingly operate as independent agents online, and thus also need to be aware of password “best practice”. To meet this need, the Scottish curriculum for excellence includes lessons about password “best practice”. Hence, all Scottish children ought, theoretically, to have similar levels of password-related knowledge. They ought also, by age 8-9, to be able to apply their knowledge. One factor that could deter password-related knowledge acquisition and skill development is financial deprivation. To gauge its impact, we assessed the knowledge and abilities of Scottish 8-9 year old children, in four primary schools, in areas of varying financial deprivation. We uncovered stark differences in knowledge and password retention. There is a clear need for an extra-curricular intervention programme to teach up-to-date password “best practice” and support in developing the required password management skills. This will reduce their online vulnerabilities, whatever their socio-economic background

Cyberspace: Ethical Issues and Catholic Perspectives

Thesis advisor: Andrea ViciniThesis advisor: Richard SpinelloIn this thesis, I try to make a small contribution to this search for an Order in cyberspace. In the first chapter I study some new dimensions of freedom, which arose together with the development of the internet. I present the technology and the culture of hackers as two sources of a new understanding of liberty in cyberspace. I also highlight two moral issues, which are present in cyberspace, and that, in my opinion, were caused by this redefinition of freedom. In the second chapter, I try to apply Christian moral theology to address, interpret, and suggest some possible solutions for some ethical issues in cyberspace. In order to build a theological foundation to address further considerations, I study the relation between God’s plan of creation and the rise of the internet. In the second section of this chapter, studying the issue of hate speech online and the phenomenon of Wikipedia, I present cyberspace simultaneously as a structure of sin and a structure of grace. The theology of the Trinity, and of Jesus as the Word of God, help me to give some Christian interpretation of this discrepancy. In the last section of this chapter, I study the phenomenon of video games, particularly online multiplayer games. I identify a deep relation between the video game culture and transhumanism, and I address its implications for morality. However, I also find some ethical virtues particularly present in the community of gamers. Finally, I identify some occurrences of the three theological virtues, faith, hope, and charity, in the virtual world of video games. This helps me to give some Christian moral interpretation of the virtual world of video games.Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2017.Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry.Discipline: Sacred Theology