## 3 A proposed Cyberattack Prevention Framework and Hypothesis Development
### Cybersecurity Leadership  
In this study, the researchers anticipated a direct and indirect positive relationship between perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, response efficacy, response costs, organization frequent training, and government frequent alerting as proposed independent variables (IVs) and cybersecurity leadership as a proposed mediating variable (MV). In addition, this study's researchers expected a direct positive relationship between cybersecurity leadership as a proposed mediating variable (MV) and cyberattack prevention as a dependent variable (DV). Thus, the analysis of the association between online security behaviors and the perceived severity of perceptions of cybersecurity hazards was aided [65]. According to [PERSON] et al. (2017) [64], it is now clearer how computer users view the benefits and drawbacks of using antimalware software. Therefore,  
**H8:**_Perceived severity has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
The use of technology and the internet for daily operations has expanded, and as a result, both people and businesses are seen as being exposed to cybersecurity leadership [67]. According to [PERSON] et al. (2019) [66], using technology frequently exposes people to many forms of cybersecurity leadership. Therefore,  
**H9:**_Perceived vulnerability has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
Organizations must increase their self-efficacy in online security practices to develop training and policy materials that are effective [69]. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2020) [92], this knowledge was gathered to implement new regulations that support safe online conduct. Therefore,  
**H10:**_Self-efficacy has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._Response efficacy looks into how consumers' attitudes around risk affect their online security behavior [71]. According to [PERSON] (2018) [93], both organizations and individuals continue to struggle with cybersecurity leadership on knowledge protection. Therefore,  
**H11:**_Response efficacy has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
To promote productivity and efficiency across the board and develop answers to the issues related to cybersecurity leadership, response costs have increased society's reliance on the internet [72]. The extent to which an organization member understands the importance of information security through cybersecurity leadership was mentioned by [65]. Therefore,  
**H12:**_Response costs have a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
Cybercriminals continue to prosper in their activities, which now involve targeting individual computer users in addition to corporations and organizations, despite constant training provided by organizations to staff members on how to secure digital assets [75]. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2020) [74], enhancing security awareness will be more cost-effective than investing in technology. Successful and effective information security management relies on it. Therefore,  
**H13:**_An organization's frequent training has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
Internet security has been under scrutiny due to an increase in data breaches caused by hacking incidents, which the government constantly warns against [77]. Internet users are aware of the potential cyber hazards, according to [PERSON] and [PERSON] (2019) [78], but they continue to connect to the internet using their laptops and other smart devices. Therefore,  
**H14:**_Government frequent alerting has a positive, significant relationship with cybersecurity leadership._  
Maintaining business operations will depend on how cybersecurity functions are positioned, and cybersecurity leadership on new practices will lead to effective prevention measures [89]. The influence of moral leadership on behavioral outcomes is crucial in cyberattack prevention, according to [PERSON] et al. (2021) [94].