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
Cybersecurity behavior change: A conceptualization of ethical principles for behavioral interventionsMersinas K, Bada M and Furnell S
Computers & Security, Elsevier vol. 148
01-01-2025
2024
Assessing Cyber Security Support for Small and Medium-Sized EnterprisesKhan N, Furnell S, Bada M, Nurse JRC and Rand M
In Human Aspects of Information Security and Assurance, Springer Nature 148-162.
28-11-2024
Behavior Change Approaches for Cyber Security and the Need for EthicsMersinas K and Bada M
Springer Proceedings in Complexity., 107-129.
01-01-2024
2023
A clinician's guide to cybersecurity and data protectionBada M
In A Practitioner’S Guide to Cybersecurity and Data Protection, Taylor & Francis 25-37.
26-10-2023
Examining risk and risk perception on LSD and MDMA in online marketplacesBada M and Chua YT
Journal of Crime and Justice, Taylor & Francis vol. 47 (4), 456-471.
09-10-2023
Cybersecurity: a critical priority for digital mental healthInkster B, Knibbs C and Bada M
Frontiers in Digital Health, Frontiers Media vol. 5
14-09-2023
What We Do in the Shadows: How does Experiencing Cybercrime Affect Response Actions & Protective Practices?Ng M, Bada M and Coopamootoo KPL
2023 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops (EuroS&PW). vol. 00, 659-672.
07-07-2023
ASSESSING ORGANIZATIONAL AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIGITAL SECURITY BY DESIGNFurnell S, Bada M and Kaberuka J
Journal of Information Systems Security, Jissec vol. 19 (1), 3-18.
01-01-2023
Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Using Privacy Enhancing TechnologiesBada M, Furnell S, Nurse JRC and Dymydiuk J
Lecture Notes in Computer Science. vol. 14045, 274-289.
01-01-2023
Exploring Cybercriminal Activities, Behaviors, and ProfilesBada M and Nurse JRC
In Applied Cognitive Science and Technology, Springer Nature 109-120.
01-01-2023
A clinician’s guide to cybersecurity and data protection: How to ensure client confidentiality?Bada M
In A Practitioner’S Guide to Cybersecurity and Data Protection: How to Ensure Client Confidentiality 25-37.
01-01-2023
2022
A Cybersecurity Guide for Using Fitness DevicesBada M and von Solms B
The Fifth International Conference on Safety and Security with IoT., 35-45.
12-06-2022
2021
Understanding Risk and Risk Perceptions of Cybercrime in Underground ForumsBada M and Chua YT
2021 APWG Symposium on Electronic Crime Research (eCrime). vol. 2021-December
01-12-2021
Developing a cyber security culture: Current practices and future needsUchendu B, Nurse JRC, Bada M and Furnell S
Computers & Security, Elsevier vol. 109
01-10-2021
Profiling the Cybercriminal: A Systematic Review of ResearchBada M and Nurse JRC
2021 International Conference on Cyber Situational Awareness, Data Analytics and Assessment (CyberSA). vol. 00, 1-8.
18-06-2021
Psychology of CybercrimeBada M
In Encyclopedia of Cryptography, Security and Privacy, Springer Nature 1-5.
01-01-2021
Exploring Masculinities and Perceptions of Gender in Online Cybercrime SubculturesBada M, Chua YT, Collier B and Pete I
In Cybercrime in Context, Springer Nature 237-257.
01-01-2021
2020
An exploration of the cybercrime ecosystem around ShodanBada M and Pete I
2020 7th International Conference on Internet of Things: Systems, Management and Security (IOTSMS). vol. 00, 1-8.
16-12-2020
A Social Network Analysis and Comparison of Six Dark Web ForumsPete I, Hughes J, Chua YT and Bada M
2020 IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy Workshops (EuroS&PW). vol. 00, 484-493.
11-01-2020
Chapter 4 The social and psychological impact of cyberattacksBada M and Nurse JRC
In Emerging Cyber Threats and Cognitive Vulnerabilities, Elsevier 73-92.
01-01-2020
2019
Cybersecurity Capacity: Does It Matter?Dutton WH, Creese S, Shillair R and Bada M
Journal of Information Policy, The Pennsylvania State University Press vol. 9, 280-306.
01-12-2019
Building the Cybersecurity Capacity of NationsCreese S, Shillair R, Bada M and Dutton WH
In Society and The Internet, Oxford University Press (Oup) 165-179.
18-07-2019
Developing cybersecurity education and awareness programmes for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)Bada M and Nurse JRC
Information and Computer Security, Emerald vol. 27 (3), 393-410.
08-07-2019
Cybersecurity Culture in Computer Security Incident Response TeamsIoannou M, Stavrou E and Bada M
2019 International Conference on Cyber Security and Protection of Digital Services (Cyber Security). vol. 00, 1-4.
03-06-2019
The social and psychological impact of cyberattacksBada M and Nurse JRC
In Emerging Cyber Threats and Cognitive Vulnerabilities 73-92.
01-01-2019
Online suicide games: A form of digital: Self-harm or a myth?Bada M and Clayton R
Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine vol. 17, 25-30.
01-01-2019
2018
The Group Element of Cybercrime: Types, Dynamics, and Criminal OperationsNurse JRC and Bada M
In The Oxford Handbook of Cyberpsychology, Oxford University Press (Oup) 690-715.
09-10-2018
2017
A Study into the Cybersecurity Awareness Initiatives for School Learners in South Africa and the UKKritzinger E, Bada M and Nurse JRC
In Information Security Education For a Global Digital Society, Springer Nature 110-120.
01-01-2017
An Assessment of the Security and Transparency Procedural Components of the Estonian Internet Voting SystemNurse JRC, Agrafiotis I, Erola A, Bada M, Roberts T, Williams M, Goldsmith M and Creese S
In Human Aspects of Information Security, Privacy and Trust, Springer Nature 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