Responses to the Michelangelo computer virus threat: The role of information sources and risk homeostasis theory

Computer users were surveyed before and after the Michelangelo trigger date (March 6, 1992) to examine risk perceptions and performance of risky and p rotective behaviors. Consistent with Risk Homeostasis theory, population ri sk perceptions changed over the course of the risk period, while personal r isk perceptions remained unchanged. Protective behaviors also changed over the virus threat period and were dependent on the passage of the virus trig ger date, prior virus experience, and experience during the period of the r isk event. This study: (a) provides a scaling of risky and protective behav iors that others may use in future research, (b) suggests a more vivid pict ure of risk related behavior can be obtained by evaluating personal versus population risk perceptions and risky versus protective behaviors separatel y, and (c) suggests that training to reduce risks will be most effective if focused on behaviors that are least central to work activities.