EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Cyber Security

Year 2 Student - 2023 Cohort - Cohort 5

My academic background is based within psychology, as I have a degree in Psychology (BSc) and Organisational Psychology (MSc). For my MSc thesis I have examined the relationship between personality and online behaviours of users with a thorough focus on psychometrics due to the ambiguous results in the literature.  

I subsequently grew interested in the evaluation and development of psychometric assessments that measure (un)safe online behaviours. As per my background, I am also drawn to human performance and human factors within the field as well as examining and developing strategies that promote safe online behaviours of both employees within organisations as well as the aging population. 

Protecting older adults from online scams

Older adults are among the most overlooked and underserved groups in the field of cybersecurity. Often stereotyped as less knowledgeable about safe technology practices, they are perceived as especially susceptible to online scams and, as a result, frequently targeted by scammers. Despite this, little is understood about how older adults engage with scam attempts and how their interactions compare to those of other age groups.
This research aims to identify the factors that contribute to susceptibility to scams and how these factors are influenced by age. It examines how scams unfold and how individuals navigate them using a mixed methodology approach, including experimental designs. The findings aim to challenge prevailing assumptions, clarify differences between age groups and inform cybersecurity practices.

Supervisors: Professor David Ellis (Bath) and Dr Matthew Edwards (Bristol)

• REPHRAIN All Hands Meeting (25th - 26th January 2024)

• Immersive Labs - designed an interactive training campaign against phishing
• Academic Placement with Dr Matthew Edwards - Automated GPT Email Scam-baiting