Drivers of information security search behavior: An investigation of network attacks and vulnerability disclosures

Abstract

More and more people use search engines to seek for various information. This study investigates the search behavior that drives the search for information security knowledge via a search engine. Based on theories in information search and information security behavior we examine the effects of network attacks and vulnerability disclosures on search for information security knowledge by ordinary users. We construct a unique dataset from publicly available sources, and use a dynamic regression model to test the hypotheses empirically. We find that network attacks of current day and one day prior significantly impact the search, while vulnerability disclosure does not significantly affect the search. Implications of the study are discussed.

Research Note—An Exploration of Risk Characteristics of Information Security Threats and Related Public Information Search Behavior

“…The results also indicate that contextual variables such as network attacks and the day when a search is performed (weekday vs. weekend) affect search behavior. The effects of control variables are largely consistent with prior findings in the area of information search (Baye et al 2009, Bucklin and Sismeiro 2003, Johnson et al 2003, Wang et al 2010.…”

“…We thus included the number of network attacks on the date when the search was performed as a control variable. We derived the measurement of network attack intensity based on DShield data (www.DShield.org; Wang et al 2010). Fourth, we included whether the search was conducted on a weekday or weekend/holiday as a control variable, because time constraints may vary for these two periods (Baye et al 2009).…”

“…However, IS threats grow increasingly complicated, and users may have to overcome barriers of knowledge deficiency as the first step toward improving IS security. Search engines are being used as an effective channel to acquire threat information (Wang et al 2010(Wang et al , 2012. Searches for information on threats improve users' knowledge and help regulate their negative emotions, such as fear, associated with the threats (Griffin et al 1999, Kahlor 2007, ter Huurne et al 2009).…”

Cross-visiting Behaviour of Online Consumers Across Retailers’ and Comparison Sites, a Macro-Study

“…Then, it draws on a large-scale tracking data of million users across different websites to analyze consumers' holistic behaviour. Examining real-life logs of user behaviour is increasingly important, as it captures the actual usage rather than users' intension (Wang et al 2010) and provides valuable insight into online behaviour (Wang et al 2012(Wang et al , 2015. In addition, actual usage does not rely on participant's self-reported behaviour.…”