Abstract:
The ability to anticipate the strategic actions of hackers, including where, when, and how they might attack, and their tactics for evading detection, is a valuable skill...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
The ability to anticipate the strategic actions of hackers, including where, when, and how they might attack, and their tactics for evading detection, is a valuable skill for cybersecurity. Therefore, developing the strategic reasoning abilities of cybersecurity students is an important cybersecurity education learning objective. This paper proposes that basic game theory concepts should be taught to cybersecurity students in order to improve their strategic reasoning abilities. It details a pretest-posttest educational experiment that demonstrates that 2 h of basic game theory instruction results in a statistically significant improvement in students' abilities to anticipate the strategic actions of others. It also provides details of the game theory curriculum to help other cybersecurity educators replicate these results. Additionally, this paper suggests that another benefit of teaching game theory in a cybersecurity course is that it may fundamentally alter the way students view the practice of cybersecurity, helping to sensitize them to the human adversary element inherent in cybersecurity in addition to technology-focused best practices. This could result in a more naturally strategic-minded, and therefore better equipped, cybersecurity workforce.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 60, Issue: 3, August 2017)
Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
Seth T. Hamman (S’14–M’16) received the B.A. degree in religion from Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, in 2002, the M.S. degree in computer science from Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA, in 2016.
He is an Assistant Professor of computer science with the School of Engineering and Computer Science, ...Show More
Seth T. Hamman (S’14–M’16) received the B.A. degree in religion from Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, in 2002, the M.S. degree in computer science from Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA, in 2016.
He is an Assistant Professor of computer science with the School of Engineering and Computer Science, ...View more
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
Kenneth M. Hopkinson (S’98–M’04–SM’10) received the B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA, in 1997, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, in 2002 and 2004, respectively, all in computer science.
He is a Professor of computer science with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA. His current research interests include simulation, netwo...Show More
Kenneth M. Hopkinson (S’98–M’04–SM’10) received the B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA, in 1997, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, in 2002 and 2004, respectively, all in computer science.
He is a Professor of computer science with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA. His current research interests include simulation, netwo...View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Ruth L. Markham received the B.A. degree in sociology/psychology from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, USA, in 1980, and the M.A., Ed.S., and Ed.D. degrees in school psychology from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA, in 1982, 1983, and 1987, respectively.
She is an Assistant Professor of psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. Her current research interest includes psychology that involve learning a...Show More
Ruth L. Markham received the B.A. degree in sociology/psychology from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, USA, in 1980, and the M.A., Ed.S., and Ed.D. degrees in school psychology from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA, in 1982, 1983, and 1987, respectively.
She is an Assistant Professor of psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. Her current research interest includes psychology that involve learning a...View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Andrew M. Chaplik is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.
Andrew M. Chaplik is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Gabrielle E. Metzler is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.
Gabrielle E. Metzler is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.View more
Contents Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
Seth T. Hamman (S’14–M’16) received the B.A. degree in religion from Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, in 2002, the M.S. degree in computer science from Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA, in 2016.
He is an Assistant Professor of computer science with the School of Engineering and Computer Science, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. His current research interest includes improving cybersecurity education.
Seth T. Hamman (S’14–M’16) received the B.A. degree in religion from Duke University, Durham, NC, USA, in 2002, the M.S. degree in computer science from Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA, in 2011, and the Ph.D. degree in computer science from the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA, in 2016.
He is an Assistant Professor of computer science with the School of Engineering and Computer Science, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. His current research interest includes improving cybersecurity education.View more
Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
Kenneth M. Hopkinson (S’98–M’04–SM’10) received the B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA, in 1997, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, in 2002 and 2004, respectively, all in computer science.
He is a Professor of computer science with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA. His current research interests include simulation, networking, and distributed systems.
Kenneth M. Hopkinson (S’98–M’04–SM’10) received the B.S. degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, USA, in 1997, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA, in 2002 and 2004, respectively, all in computer science.
He is a Professor of computer science with the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA. His current research interests include simulation, networking, and distributed systems.View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Ruth L. Markham received the B.A. degree in sociology/psychology from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, USA, in 1980, and the M.A., Ed.S., and Ed.D. degrees in school psychology from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA, in 1982, 1983, and 1987, respectively.
She is an Assistant Professor of psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. Her current research interest includes psychology that involve learning and the educational process.
Ruth L. Markham received the B.A. degree in sociology/psychology from Grace College, Winona Lake, IN, USA, in 1980, and the M.A., Ed.S., and Ed.D. degrees in school psychology from Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA, in 1982, 1983, and 1987, respectively.
She is an Assistant Professor of psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA. Her current research interest includes psychology that involve learning and the educational process.View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Andrew M. Chaplik is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.
Andrew M. Chaplik is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.View more
Psychology Department, Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA
Gabrielle E. Metzler is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.
Gabrielle E. Metzler is currently pursuing the undergraduate degree in psychology with Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH, USA.View more
