Addressing the necessity of cybersecurity literacy: the case of ETTCS CyberTeach project

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present actions and initiatives, developed within the scope of the Empowering Teachers to Trigger Cybersecurity at Schools (ETTCS) CyberTeach Erasmus Project, to enhance cybersecurity literacy through innovative digital content and contemporary Learning Management System (LMS) platform. Design/methodology/approach The concept of cybersecurity literacy has become increasingly crucial in recent years, as the digitization of most human activities is being completed within the framework of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Almost all devices, vehicles and services in the near future will be interconnected to the internet and operate on advanced computing platforms. The benefits of these technological advancements are evident, as are the potential risks. To this end, organized cybercriminals, black hat hackers and state-sponsored actors may attempt, through various cyberattacks, to steal personal data, cause road accidents in connected autonomous vehicles and, in general, disrupt critical infrastructures. Cybersecurity is a growing concern when it comes to digitalization and cloudification. This way, digital assets must be conveniently protected to avoid any concern about their confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Therefore, the ability of every citizen to use the internet and smart devices wisely and securely is one of the most fundamental skills they should possess. In this work, the authors present actions and initiatives, developed within the scope of the ETTCS CyberTeach Erasmus Project, to enhance cybersecurity literacy through innovative digital content and contemporary LMS platform. A new approach to teach cybersecurity, based on innovative teaching methods, is presented to prepare future citizens and their teachers to keep up with cybersecurity issues in an efficient manner. To this end, the authors propose ways to reach cybersecurity literacy, giving use case examples and proposing the necessary digital skills. Findings A new approach to teach cybersecurity, based on innovative teaching methods, is presented to prepare future citizens and their teachers to keep up with cybersecurity issues in an efficient manner. To this end, the authors propose ways to reach cybersecurity literacy, giving use case examples and proposing the necessary digital skills. Originality/value This work demonstrates a new methodology to infuse cybersecurity awareness into teachers so that they can train and prepare their students accordingly. The authors identify the teacher as the critical link between a young generation of digital natives, who consider the internet as a utility, and the most experienced information technology security experts striving to enforce good cybersecurity practices among users.