Dr Maria Bada
Lecturer in Cyberpsychology
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Online behaviour, Cyberpsychology, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity
Interests
I am a member of the committee of the Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and Society Group at QMUL.My research focuses on the human element of cybersecurity and human-computer interaction. I am conducting research on the effectiveness of cybersecurity awareness campaigns trying to identify factors which potentially lead to failure of these in changing the information security behaviour of consumers and employees. The development of effective prevention activities to enhance the resilience of SMEs in cybercrime is another topic I am also exploring.
Within the area of human-computer interaction and behaviour change, my research focused on the needs of schools and the challenges that children face online, with the aim to develop effective cybersecurity awareness initiatives for school learners in South Africa and the UK. I have also explored youth delinquency in collaboration with the National Crime Agency and the Home Office, in assessing the interventions designed to prevent cybercrime as part of the Prevent objectives of the Serious and Organised Crime Strategy.
I also research the different types of harms for various vulnerable groups and their interdependencies, aimed to identify areas requiring further investment and policy making at national/local level. Within this area I explore the social and psychological impact of cyber-attacks and the aspects such as widespread anxiety and the social disruption caused to people’s daily lives. I am also exploring the cybercrime ecosystem, studying the profiles, pathways and risk perceptions of cybercriminals and how they form their groups.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour2025
Mersinas K, Bada M and Furnell S (2025). Cybersecurity behavior change: A conceptualization of ethical principles for behavioral interventions. Computers & Security, Elsevier vol. 148 01-01-2025
2024
Khan N, Furnell S, Bada M, Nurse JRC and Rand M (2024). Assessing Cyber Security Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance 148-162. 28-11-2024
Mersinas K and Bada M (2024). Behavior Change Approaches for Cyber Security and the Need for Ethics. 01-01-2024
2023
Bada M (2023). A clinician's guide to cybersecurity and data protection. A Practitioner’s Guide to Cybersecurity and Data Protection 25-37. 26-10-2023
Bada M and Chua YT (2023). Examining risk and risk perception on LSD and MDMA in online marketplaces. Journal of Crime and Justice, Taylor & Francis vol. 47 (4), 456-471. 09-10-2023
Inkster B, Knibbs C and Bada M (2023). Cybersecurity: a critical priority for digital mental health. Frontiers in Digital Health, Frontiers Media vol. 5 14-09-2023
Ng M, Bada M and Coopamootoo KPL (2023). What We Do in the Shadows: How does Experiencing Cybercrime Affect Response Actions & Protective Practices? 2023 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops (EuroS&PW). 07-07-2023
Furnell S, Bada M and Kaberuka J (2023). ASSESSING ORGANIZATIONAL AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIGITAL SECURITY BY DESIGN. Journal of Information Systems Security, JISSec vol. 19 (1), 3-18. 01-01-2023
Bada M, Furnell S, Nurse JRC and Dymydiuk J (2023). Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Using Privacy Enhancing Technologies. 01-01-2023
Bada M and Nurse JRC (2023). Exploring Cybercriminal Activities, Behaviors, and Profiles. Applied Cognitive Science and Technology 109-120. 01-01-2023
Bada M (2023). A clinician’s guide to cybersecurity and data protection: How to ensure client confidentiality? A Practitioner’s Guide to Cybersecurity and Data Protection: How to Ensure Client Confidentiality 25-37. 01-01-2023
2022
Bada M and von Solms B (2022). A Cybersecurity Guide for Using Fitness Devices. The Fifth International Conference on Safety and Security with IoT. 12-06-2022
2021
Bada M and Chua YT (2021). Understanding Risk and Risk Perceptions of Cybercrime in Underground Forums. 2021 APWG Symposium on Electronic Crime Research (eCrime). 01-12-2021
Uchendu B, Nurse JRC, Bada M and Furnell S (2021). Developing a cyber security culture: Current practices and future needs. Computers & Security, Elsevier vol. 109 01-10-2021
Bada M and Nurse JRC (2021). Profiling the Cybercriminal: A Systematic Review of Research. 2021 International Conference on Cyber Situational Awareness, Data Analytics and Assessment (CyberSA). 18-06-2021
Bada M (2021). Psychology of Cybercrime. Encyclopedia of Cryptography, Security and Privacy 1-5. 01-01-2021
Bada M, Chua YT, Collier B and Pete I (2021). Exploring Masculinities and Perceptions of Gender in Online Cybercrime Subcultures. Cybercrime in Context 237-257. 01-01-2021
2020
Bada M and Pete I (2020). An exploration of the cybercrime ecosystem around Shodan. 2020 7th International Conference on Internet of Things: Systems, Management and Security (IOTSMS). 16-12-2020
Pete I, Hughes J, Chua YT and Bada M (2020). A Social Network Analysis and Comparison of Six Dark Web Forums. 2020 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops (EuroS&PW). 11-01-2020
Bada M and Nurse JRC (2020). Chapter 4 The social and psychological impact of cyberattacks. Emerging Cyber Threats and Cognitive Vulnerabilities 73-92. 01-01-2020
2019
Dutton WH, Creese S, Shillair R and Bada M (2019). Cybersecurity Capacity: Does It Matter? Journal of Information Policy, The Pennsylvania State University Press vol. 9, 280-306. 01-12-2019
Creese S, Shillair R, Bada M and Dutton WH (2019). Building the Cybersecurity Capacity of Nations. Society and the Internet 165-179. 18-07-2019
Bada M and Nurse JRC (2019). Developing cybersecurity education and awareness programmes for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Information and Computer Security, Emerald vol. 27 (3), 393-410. 08-07-2019
Ioannou M, Stavrou E and Bada M (2019). Cybersecurity Culture in Computer Security Incident Response Teams. 2019 International Conference on Cyber Security and Protection of Digital Services (Cyber Security). 03-06-2019
Bada M and Nurse JRC (2019). The social and psychological impact of cyberattacks. Emerging Cyber Threats and Cognitive Vulnerabilities 73-92. 01-01-2019
Bada M and Clayton R (2019). Online suicide games: A form of digital: Self-harm or a myth? Annual Review of CyberTherapy and Telemedicine vol. 17, 25-30. 01-01-2019
2018
Nurse JRC and Bada M (2018). The Group Element of Cybercrime: Types, Dynamics, and Criminal Operations. The Oxford Handbook of Cyberpsychology 690-715. 09-10-2018
2017
Kritzinger E, Bada M and Nurse JRC (2017). A Study into the Cybersecurity Awareness Initiatives for School Learners in South Africa and the UK. Information Security Education for a Global Digital Society 110-120. 01-01-2017
Nurse JRC, Agrafiotis I, Erola A, Bada M, Roberts T, Williams M, Goldsmith M and Creese S (2017). An Assessment of the Security and Transparency Procedural Components of the Estonian Internet Voting System. Human Aspects of Information Security, Privacy and Trust 366-383. 01-01-2017
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Brain and BehaviourEnhancing national cyber resilience via SME cyber security and digital responsibilityMaria Bada
£328,119 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (01-09-2023 - 28-02-2026)
REPHRAIN: Supporting organisations in making effective privacy related decisionsMaria Bada
£50,801 EPSRC Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (01-05-2022 - 30-06-2023)
Assessing Organisational DSbD Awareness and ReadinessMaria Bada
£15,554 ESRC Economic and Social Research Council (01-04-2022 - 31-07-2024)