How Do Cyberattacks Hurt Me? (2018-2019)

Data breaches and computer hacks are occurring at an alarming pace, exposing consumers’ financial information—as well as other information—to misappropriation. Where does this data go? Why do we feel so exposed and vulnerable? Should we care, especially in light of the fact that we voluntarily turn over personal data to social media firms and financial institutions anyway? How do we describe the harms, and how do we find data that can document such harm? Little has been done to begin to analyze this inchoate form of anxiety as it pertains in particular to personal financial data.

This Bass Connections project explored the pathways and articulation of harm from consumer data breaches, particularly as such losses of personal financial information may have effects on our ability to access credit and be full economic citizens. The project’s primary objective was to discern and then depict harms to consumers from financial data breaches, as this knowledge is foundational to discussions regarding optimal policy design and intervention. The project team reviewed various significant cyberattacks that involved personal financial information, the pathways through which this information gets transmitted and how the information is utilized by the hackers to harm consumers.

From here, the project team articulated a list of potential harms and worked to measure or consider proxies for the cost of these harms to consumers. Team members used accessible graphics to depict the potential harms. The team developed an accessible website, pamphlets and videos. They also developed an internal and external contact list of federal, North Carolina and local policymakers who are looking at the issues of cybersecurity.

Timing

Fall 2018 – Spring 2019

Team Outputs

Analese Bridges, Shreya Hurli, David Liu, Matthew Philips, Sabrina Pin, Mary Wang. 2019. Cybersecurity for American Families: A 10-Step Data Security Guide for the People You Love.

10 Step Data Security Guide for American Families (website by Analese Bridges, Shreya Hurli, David Liu, Matthew Philips, Sabrina Pin, Mary Wang)

How Do Cyberattacks Hurt Me? (poster by Matthew Philips, Analese Bridges, Shreya Hurli, David Liu, Sabrina Pin, Mary Wang, presented at Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 17, 2019)