أنماط الابتزاز الالكتروني وآثاره النفسية على الضحايا

Abstract

Synopsis: 

This study aims to identify the patterns of cyber extortion and its psychological effects on students within the university environment. This study adopted the descriptive method using an electronic questionnaire distributed to a sample of 46 students from different university levels (bachelor, master, and postgraduate). The results showed that most of the participating students have experienced or have direct knowledge of cases of blackmail within the university environment, most notably the threat of publishing private photos, hacking accounts and stealing information, which are the most common methods in the study sample.  These behaviours have left harmful psychological effects on the victims, represented by fear, anxiety, loss of self-confidence, guilt and shame, and sometimes a tendency to isolation in society, especially with the absence of protection and support mechanisms within the university.

Keywords: 

Cyber blackmail, account hacking, cybercrime, lack of psychological support, university environment, threats to publish photos, university students.