FACTORS AFFECTING PHISHING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF THE STUDENTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and examine the factors that may affect phishing susceptibility of the students. Using a role-play task in an online survey, data were collected from students of the University of Turku during summer 2016. The data was used to elicit relationship of factors such as knowledge of phishing, trust, cognitive impulsivity, online activity, perceived ease of use and perceived email experience with phishing susceptibility using correlation.

The results revealed that factors such as knowledge of phishing and perceived ease of use had a significant relationship with phishing susceptibility. Moreover, phishing susceptibility did not have a significant relationship with factors such as trust, cognitive impulsivity, internet use and email experience. The findings also revealed that most students are unable to differentiate between phishing and legitimate emails. Also, undergraduate students are more prone to phishing attack compared to postgraduate students.

The study is significant to both the academic and professional community because it attempts to uncover the students’ views on phishing attack, thereby complementing existing knowledge. Also, it has the potential of enhancing the design of training resources targeting the vulnerable university students and help mitigate phishing attack.