The use of technologies and the Internet poses problems and risks related to digital security. This article presents the results of a study on the evaluation of the digital competence of future teachers in the DigCompEdu European framework. 317 undergraduate students from Spain and Portugal answered a questionnaire with 59 items, validated by experts, in order to assess the level and predominant competence profile in initial training (including knowledge, uses and interactions and attitudinal patterns). The results show that 47% of the participants belong to the profile of teachers at medium digital risk, evidencing habitual practices that involve risks such as sharing information and digital content inappropriately, not using strong passwords, and ignoring concepts such as identity, digital “footprint” and digital reputation. The average valuations of each item in the seven categories show that future teachers have an average competence in the area of digital security. They have good attitudes toward security but less knowledge and fewer skills and practices related to the safe and responsible use of the Internet. Future lines of work are proposed, aimed at responding to the demand for a better prepared and more digitally competent citizenry. The demand for education in security, privacy and digital identity is becoming increasingly important, and these elements form an essential part of initial training. El uso de las tecnologías e Internet plantea problemas y riesgos relacionados con la seguridad digital. Este artículo presenta los resultados de un estudio sobre la evaluación de la competencia digital de futuros docentes en el marco europeo DigCompEdu. Participan 317 estudiantes de Grado de España y Portugal. Se aplica un cuestionario con 59 ítems validado por expertos con el objeto de conocer el nivel y perfil competencial predominante en la formación inicial (incluyendo conocimientos, usos e interacciones y patrones actitudinales). Los resultados muestran que el 47% de los participantes pertenecen al perfil de docentes en riesgo digital medio, evidenciando prácticas habituales que conllevan riesgos tales como compartir información y contenidos digitales de forma inapropiada, no utilizar contraseñas seguras, y desconocer conceptos como identidad, huella o reputación digital. Las valoraciones medias de cada ítem en las siete categorías evidencian que los futuros docentes poseen una competencia media en el área de seguridad digital. Tienen buenas actitudes hacia la seguridad, pero menos conocimientos, habilidades y prácticas relacionadas con el uso seguro y responsable de Internet. Se plantean futuras líneas de trabajo enfocadas a dar respuesta a la exigencia de una ciudadanía mejor preparada y más competente digitalmente. La demanda de formación en seguridad, privacidad e identidad digital está siendo cada vez más importante, reconociéndose que es muy necesaria en la formación inicial.

The goal of this review is to analyse the state of inquiry in the field of digital competence in security in initial teacher education, via indicators to assess preservice teachers’ digital competence in security, in order to help find opportunities to improve their competence level. Following the parameters defined in the PRISMA declaration, the review uses a bibliographic research methodology to explore the WoS, Scopus and ERIC databases. After a search identifying a sample of 31 scholarly articles published between 2010 and 2021, we analyse the information obtained using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results show a predominance of empirical research in the European context. These studies are quantitative and tend to use questionnaires. Our conclusion proposes the need to train preservice teachers in data protection and privacy, searching for and using Internet images with authorship screening, use of open software programs, and respect for online communication norms, as well as ethical and responsible technology use. All of these issues are implicitly and transversally linked to the area of digital competence in security.

The protection of personal data and privacy are important issues closely related to use of social media, information and communication technologies, and the Internet in the area of education. The treatment of academic information and use of tools and programs for instruction, communication, and learning have revealed the handling of a significant volume of personal data from different sources. It is essential to protect this information from possible privacy violations. This descriptive study, which is of transversal nonexperimental design, focuses on how 384 pre-service teachers’ enrolled in educational technology courses in their education programs view the protection of personal data. The goals are to describe and analyze how these teachers perceive the risks associated with protection of data on the Internet and what they know about protection of data in primary education. We administered a questionnaire within the framework of an educational activity that focused on digital competence in data protection in education. The results show a high perception of risk in topics such as accepting cookies when surfing the Internet or transferring banking information. The knowledge the students claim to have shown a lack of information on the protection of minors’ data in issues related to the development and schooling of primary school students, as well as their health, background, and family environment. Curricular treatment of these areas that includes content, practices on regulations, and adopts a situated, critical, and responsible approach in pre-service teacher education is recommended.

Technology and Internet use poses digital security problems and risks. This article presents the results of a study evaluating the digital competence of preservice teachers within the DigCompEdu European framework. A group of 317 undergraduates from Spain and Portugal completed a 59-item questionnaire validated by experts to assess the level and predominant competence profile in initial training (including knowledge, uses and interactions, and attitudinal patterns). The results show that 47% of the participants fit the profile of teachers at medium-level digital risk; that is, they engage in habitual practices that involve risks such as sharing information and digital content inappropriately, not using strong passwords, and ignoring concepts such as digital identity, digital “footprint,” and digital reputation. The average values obtained for each item in the seven categories show that preservice teachers have medium-level competence in digital security. These individuals have good attitudes toward security but less knowledge and fewer skills and practices for safe, responsible Internet use. The study proposes future lines of research to respond to the demand for a better-prepared, more digitally competent citizenry. The demand for education in security, privacy, and digital identity is becoming increasingly important, and these elements form an essential part of initial training.

La atención a los problemas y riesgos relacionados con la seguridad digital requiere acciones educativas para reducir la incertidumbre que genera la convivencia en la sociedad digital. Este estudio descriptivo tiene como propósito conocer el nivel competencial de estudiantes universitarios en el área de seguridad digital y el alcance de una intervención implementada y evaluada en entornos enriquecidos con tecnología. Participan 154 estudiantes de dos universidades de España y Portugal. La evaluación del nivel competencial en seguridad digital es actividad previa a la intervención en la que los participantes utilizando diversas herramientas tecnológicas realizan en total 1012 actividades. Los resultados muestran que el 93.5%  de participantes tienen un nivel competencial intermedio. Como parte de la intervención se analizan 148 narrativas digitales y 141 reflexiones sobre netiqueta y redes sociales. El análisis descriptivo de la evaluación a la intervención, da como resultado una valoración media del grupo de 82.13. Los futuros educadores deben ser competentes en ésta área y  ser conscientes de la importancia que esta tiene para la educación y en la sociedad. Es importante su formación para la conformación de una ciudadanía digital más segura y responsable en el uso de la tecnología y de Internet.