• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.538-547
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• 2016

With respect to the factors affecting information security awareness and behavior, the study of the relevance of the concept of optimistic bias is actively used in psychology. In other words, this study examines whether the optimistic bias of individuals affects information security in the field. In this sense, this study attempted to demonstrate the relevance of optimistic bias in information security behavior and awareness. A questionnaire survey was conducted targeting 111 people engaged in domestic private enterprises. The survey results showed that this personalized optimistic bias exists because of empirical factors related to personal security. Optimistic bias affects the security awareness information. The greater the optimistic bias, the lower the awareness and recognition of information security. In other words, optimistic bias affects information security awareness. Reducing the effects of optimistic bias is expected to reduce information security incidents, such as information leakages. However, the variety of information related ethical activities of a company did not have any effect on the information security awareness. Most previous studies have only examined the effect optimistic bias in the field of health. Therefore, this study fills an important gap in research in IT.