Cyber Threats and Safeguarding Strategies in Metaverse Libraries: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/3005-4222/17806Keywords:
cyber threats, data protection, identity theft, metaverse libraries, virtual environmentsAbstract
The study explores cyber threats in metaverse libraries, focusing on the challenges these institutions face as they integrate immersive technologies into their services. The rationale for this study stems from the increasing popularity of the metaverse across various sectors, including libraries, where it enhances user engagement through immersive experiences. However, the integration of these technologies introduces new vulnerabilities that necessitate robust cybersecurity measures. The study employed a systematic review methodology, sourcing relevant literature from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar published between 2020 and 2024. The findings were categorised into three main themes: the conceptual framework of cybersecurity in the metaverse, cyber threats specific to metaverse libraries, and potential cybersecurity strategies. The findings reveal significant risks for metaverse libraries, particularly concerning data privacy, avatar impersonation, intellectual property theft, and the security of virtual interactions. The study also underscores the need for compliance with global data protection regulations and for libraries to establish transparent privacy policies.
References
Ajani, Y. A., B. D. Oladokun, R. T. Enakrire, et al. 2024. “Metaverse Adventures into Libraries: What Librarians and Information Users Need To Know.” Reference Services Review 52 (3). https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-05-2024-0025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-05-2024-0025
Awadallah, A., K. Eledlebi, J. Zemerly, et al. 2024. “Artificial Intelligence-Based Cybersecurity for the Metaverse: Research Challenges and Opportunities.” IEEE Communications Surveys and Tutorials. https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2024.3442475 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/COMST.2024.3442475
Borky, J. M., and T. H. Bradley. 2019. “Protecting Information with Cybersecurity.” In Effective Model-Based Systems Engineering, edited by J. M. Borky and T. H. Bradley, 345–404. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95669-5_10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95669-5_10
Childs, E., F. Mohammad, L. Stevens, et al. 2023. “An Overview of Enhancing Distance Learning Through Emerging Augmented and Virtual Reality Technologies.” IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 30 (8): 4480–4496. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2023.3264577 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2023.3264577
Dawson, M., M. Omar, J. Abramson, and D. Bessette. 2014. “The Future of National and International Security on the Internet.” In Information Security in Diverse Computing Environments, edited by Anne Kayem, 149–178. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-6158-5.ch009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-6158-5.ch009
Dionisio, J. D. N., W. G. Burnes III, and R. Gilbert. 2013. “3D Virtual Worlds and the Metaverse: Current Status and Future Possibilities.” ACM Computing Surveys 45 (3): 1–38. https://doi.org/10.1145/2480741.2480751 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/2480741.2480751
Dwivedi, Y. K., L. Hughes, A. M. Baabdullah et al. 2022. “Metaverse Beyond the Hype: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Emerging Challenges, Opportunities, and Agenda for Research, Practice, and Policy.” International Journal of Information Management 66: 102542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102542 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102542
Elshenraki, H. N. 2023. Forecasting Cyber Crime in the Metaverse Era: Future Criminal Methods. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0220-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-0220-0.ch001
Fadziso, T., U. R. Thaduri, S. Dekkati, V. K. R. Ballamudi, and H. Desamsetti. 2023. “Evolution of the Cybersecurity Threat: An Overview of the Scale of Cyber Threat.” Digitalization and Sustainability Review 3 (1): 1–12.
Fiaz, F., S. M. Sajjad, Z. Iqbal, M. Yousaf, and Z. Muhammad. 2024. “MetaSSI: A Framework for Personal Data Protection, Enhanced Cybersecurity and Privacy in Metaverse Virtual Reality Platforms.” Future Internet 16 (5): 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16050176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/fi16050176
Folino, G., C. Otranto Godano, and F. S. Pisani. 2023. “An Ensemble-Based Framework for User Behaviour Anomaly Detection and Classification for Cybersecurity.” The Journal of Supercomputing 79 (11): 11660–11683. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-023-05049-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-023-05049-x
Gao, H., A. Y. L. Chong, and H. Bao. 2024. “Metaverse: Literature Review, Synthesis, and Future Research Agenda.” Journal of Computer Information Systems 64 (4): 533–553. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2023.2233455 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2023.2233455
Harley, K., and R. Cooper. 2021. “Information Integrity: Are We There Yet?” ACM Computing Surveys 54 (2): 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1145/3436817 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1145/3436817
Hasan, M. F., F. M. Ashfaq, A. A. Chowdhury, S. I. Hamim, and M. Rahmani. 2024. “Dynamic Authentication Protocols For Advanced Security In Federated Metaverse Systems.” BSc thesis, Brac University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/ICICT64387.2024.10839681
Kang, S., B. Veeravalli, K. M. M. Aung, and C. Jin. 2014. “An Efficient Scheme to Ensure Data Availability for a Cloud Service Provider.” In 2014 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, 15–20. IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/BigData.2014.7004378 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/BigData.2014.7004378
Kaur, D., B. Singh, and S. Rani. 2023. “Cyber Security in the Metaverse.” In Handbook of Research on AI-Based Technologies and Applications in the Era of the Metaverse, edited by A. Khang, V. Shah, and S. Rani, 418–435. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8851-5.ch023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8851-5.ch023
Khalaf, A. 2025. “Copyright Law and Metaverse: A Comparative Study of Challenges and Opportunities of the Egyptian Copyright Law Entering the Virtual Era.” MA diss., the American University in Cairo.
Kuru, K., and K. Kuru. 2024. “Blockchain-Based Decentralised Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning Authentication and Verification with Immersive Devices in the Urban Metaverse Ecosystem.” Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0317.v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202402.0317.v1
Kye, B., N. Han, E. Kim, Y. Park, and S. Jo. 2021. “Educational Applications of Metaverse: Possibilities and Limitations.” Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions 18: 32. https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.32 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2021.18.32
Longshak, J. E., S. A. Oyeboade, M. S. Abdullahi, and K. M. Chanai. 2023. “Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the Blockchain Era.” In Global Perspectives on Sustainable Library Practices, edited by Victoria Okojie, and Magnus Osahon Igbinovia, 263–296. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5964-5.ch020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5964-5.ch020
Ng, D. T. K. 2022. “What is the Metaverse? Definitions, Technologies, and the Community of Inquiry.” Australasian Journal of Educational Technology 38 (4): 190–205. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.7945 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.7945
Noh, Y. 2015. “Imagining Library 4.0: Creating a Model for Future Libraries.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 41 (6): 786–797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.08.020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.08.020
Nyasvisvo, B., and J. M. Chigada. 2023. Phishing Attacks: A Security Challenge for University Students Studying Remotely.” The African Journal of Information Systems 15 (2): 3.
Olabanji, S. O., Y. Marquis, C. S. Adigwe, S. A. Ajayi, T. O. Oladoyinbo, and O. O. Olaniyi. 2024. “AI-Driven Cloud Security: Examining the Impact of User Behavior Analysis on Threat Detection.” Asian Journal of Research in Computer Science 17 (3): 57–74. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrcos/2024/v17i3424 DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ajrcos/2024/v17i3424
Oladokun, B. D., D. O. Yahaya, and R. T. Enakrire. 2023a. “Moving Into the Metaverse: Libraries in Virtual Worlds.” Library Hi Tech News 40 (9): 18–21. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-08-2023-0147 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-08-2023-0147
Oladokun, B. D., R. T. Enakrire, and Y. A. Ajani. 2023b. “Metaliteracy Advocacy: The Need for Libraries to Engage Users in the Metaverse.” Business Information Review 40 (4): 167–172. https://doi.org/10.1177/02663821231209602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02663821231209602
Oladokun, B. D., and P. Gaitanou, P. 2024. “Avatars and Their Players–Art in the Libraries.” Library Hi Tech News, ahead of print, published 25 June 2024. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2024-0055 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2024-0055
Pooyandeh, M., K. J. Han, and I. Sohn. 2022. “Cybersecurity in the AI-based Metaverse: A Survey.” Applied Sciences 12 (24): 12993. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412993 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412993
Samonas, S., and D. Coss. 2014. “The CIA Strikes Back: Redefining Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability in Security.” Journal of Information System Security 10 (3).
Saracoglu, D. 2023. “Metaverse and New Cybersecurity Threats.” In Metaverse: Technologies, Opportunities and Threats, edited by Fatih Sinan Esen, Hasan Tinmaz, and Madhusudan Singh, 99–121. Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4641-9_7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-4641-9_7
Saxena, A. C., A. Ojha, D. Sobti, and A. Khang. 2023. “Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Centric Model in the Metaverse Ecosystem.” In Handbook of Research on AI-Based Technologies and Applications in the Era of the Metaverse, edited by A. Khang, V. Shah, and S. Rani, 1–24. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8851-5.ch001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-8851-5.ch001
Sharma, S., J. Singh, A. Gupta, F. Ali, F. Khan, and D. Kwak. 2024. “User Safety and Security in the Metaverse: A Critical Review.” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society 5: 5467–5487. https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2024.3397044 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2024.3397044
Singh, A., A. Vaish, and P. K. Keserwani. 2014. “Information Security: Components and Techniques.” International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science and Software Engineering 4 (1).
Subaveerapandiyan, A., A. Baiju, N. Ahmad, M. K. Verma, and P. Sinha. 2024. “Exploring Metaverse Literacy: Immersive Technologies in Library Environments.” Journal of Web Librarianship 18 (2): 39–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2024.2382688 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19322909.2024.2382688
Tella, A., Y. A. Ajani, and U. V. Ailaku. 2023. “Libraries in the Metaverse: The Need for Metaliteracy for Digital Librarians and Digital Age Library Users.” Library Hi Tech News 40 (8): 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-06-2023-0094 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-06-2023-0094
Verma, S., and U. Dwivedi. 2023. “Optimizing Digital Knowledge Repositories: Leveraging Electronic Resources in University Libraries for Enhanced Academic Advantages.” Perspectives in Social Work 37 (3): 112–132.
Vondráček, M., I. Baggili, P. Casey, and M. Mekni. 2023. “Forensic Readiness and Analysis of Metaverse Platforms: A Novel Metaverse Forensic Artefact Classification And Data Extraction Approach.” Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation 42: 301607.
Wang, H., H. Ning, Y. Lin, et al. 2023. “A Survey on the Metaverse: The State-Of-The-Art, Technologies, Applications, and Challenges.” IEEE Internet of Things Journal 10 (16): 14671–14688. https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2023.3278329 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/JIOT.2023.3278329
Zainuddin, A. A., A. Othman, N. A. M. Zahid, N. A. S. K. Zaman, A. N. M. A. Razmi, and M. H. A. K. Zaman. 2024. “A Comprehensive Analysis of IoT Security and Privacy in Smart City Applications.” Bulletin of Social Informatics Theory and Application 8 (1): 37–58.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Bolaji David Oladokun, Ebiere Diana Orubebe, Yusuf Ajani, Yinka Martins Omoniyi; Edidiong Nyong Ben

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.