THE EFFICACY OF CYBERCRIME AWARENESS STRATEGIES: AN ASSESSMENT

Abstract

What is typically discussed about technology when considering what it was meant to do for humanity? The majority of people will tell you that the goal was to make people’s lives better and easier, and in many ways, that is still the case today. Unfortunately, technology has also enabled people to carry out covert criminal activities from the comfort of their own homes. Criminal organizations undoubtedly benefited from social media, and technological use has led to the rise of cybercrimes. Assessing the efficacy of cybercrime awareness strategies will potentially help us understand what cybercrime is and the risks associated with it. The researchers utilized a purposive sampling technique and a descriptive qualitative method, which were employed with 100 residents of Barangay 168, Deparo Road, Casimiro Townhomes, Caloocan City. The sample consisted of twenty-five (25) parents, twenty-five (25) senior high school students, and fifty (50) college students. The researchers requested the respondents' permission to participate in the study and answer the survey questionnaire. The researchers personally distributed the questionnaire and waited for the respondents to finish answering. After the respondents had finished answering the survey, it was collected by the researchers. From the results of this study, it reveals that the efficacy of cybercrime awareness strategies in Barangay 168, Deparo Road, Casimiro Townhomes, Caloocan City, in terms of PC anti-virus, anti-phishing schemes, and anti-identity theft is interpreted as "Strongly Agree." The problems encountered were the behavioral issues (anxiety, depression) experienced by the respondents, and there are measures to address the problem. This study recommended that the community should conduct a security training session regarding cybercrimes to stay updated about the latest risks and to lessen the probability of being victimized by cyber-related crimes. Additionally, the barangay should provide the residents with alternative ways to spend their time, such as organizing sports or other fun activities that would help improve their physical, mental, and social skills. The researchers would also like to recommend implementing the proposed measures to address the problems encountered by the residents. By actively engaging in these efforts, Barangay 168 can progress toward establishing a more secure and safer use of social media on a daily basis, which will eventually aid in having a better understanding of what social media is and help them use it efficiently and responsibly.