Effect of Perceived Vulnerability Efficacy and Informal learning on Protection Behaviour

Abstract

This thesis delved into protection behavior of employees against information loss and protection behavior of entrepreneurs against financial loss. When there is a concern that loss is imminent, humans must take action to avoid losses. The majority of organization information losses are caused by employees. Similarly, most financial losses in startups are caused by entrepreneurs. This thesis analyzed the information protection behavior of employees working in organizations and the financial loss protection behavior of entrepreneurs in startups. Using protection motivation theory, the relationship among privacy concerns, protection behavior, pandemic factors, organization choice of software and the learning method that is effective for information protection behavior are analyzed. Also analyzed are the factors that increase financial loss concerns among entrepreneurs and the underlying mechanism for financial loss protection. In the first study, protection motivation theory was applied to study information protection behaviour of employees from organizations in India during Covid lockdown. Employees working in organizations must protect information to prevent theft of sensitive data, intellectual property, trade secrets, customers distrust, potential damage to organization reputation. Information is stored in digital form in many organizations which demands knowledge and protection of information from employees against security threats. The information transaction happening over internet makes it challenging as unauthorized users access the information using exploits and vulnerabilities present in the computers and network devices. Generally, organizations take many protective measures using firewalls, intrusion detection devices and sophisticated software to catch the intruders. Employees work with the protection of devices and software chosen by their respective organizations. Pandemic disrupted this organizations security protection and made the employees work from home without any of the security protection..