An investigation on the awareness of mobile phone security and privacy amongst IUM students

Abstract

The advent of mobile phone technology has delivered numerous advantages to students, enabling them to conveniently access trustworthy and pertinent academic information crucial for making important decisions across various subjects. Many students encounter issues of uneven access to information due to shortcomings in academic support services. These challenges could be effectively addressed by utilizing mobile devices. To understand how a student uses mobile device to access information and all the security measures that are associated with it, this study investigated the awareness of mobile phone security and privacy. The study applied a qualitative research approach to collect data from 30 students using semi structured interviews. Thematic analysis was applied to examine the gathered data. The study was grounded on the Cyber Security theories on behavioural issues relating to Cyber Security specifically motivational theory. The results of the study indicate that students use mobile phones mostly for personal activities. The usage trend shifted more to academic purposes since the outbreak of COVID-19 that influenced implementation of online classes by most universities around the world including IUM. The challenges found in the study including that of scamming and hacking were due to lack of knowledge, awareness or education relating to phone / internet security and privacy. The study recommends that education on privacy and use of mobile / cell phones and / or internet be undertaken to university students to help the students understand the need of phone / internet security and privacy.