Cybersecurity Awareness Based on Software and E-mail Security with Statistical Analysis

Area of Science:

• Cybersecurity
• Information Security
• Educational Technology

Background:

• Growing reliance on digital platforms necessitates robust cybersecurity awareness.
• Limited research exists on the specific impact of software and email security on student cybersecurity awareness in developing regions.
• University students represent a key demographic vulnerable to cyber threats due to extensive online activity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of software security knowledge on overall cybersecurity awareness.
• To assess the influence of email security knowledge on overall cybersecurity awareness.
• To evaluate the level of cybersecurity knowledge and awareness among university students in developing countries.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative study involving 390 university students at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University.
• Development and distribution of an 11-question survey focusing on software and email security awareness.
• Statistical analysis using SPSS and ANOVA, including reliability, validity, correlation, regression, and hypothesis testing.

Main Results:

• Software security knowledge positively impacts cybersecurity awareness (β=0.192, p≤0.001), potentially increasing it by 19.2%.
• Email security knowledge significantly enhances cybersecurity awareness (p≤0.000), contributing to a 31.3% increase.
• Both software and email security variables together significantly affect cybersecurity awareness (R²=0.121, p≤0.000), explaining 12.1% of the variance.

Conclusions:

• Improving software and email security knowledge is crucial for enhancing overall student cybersecurity awareness.
• Students demonstrate good awareness regarding software updates and email security practices.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted educational initiatives to further bolster cybersecurity knowledge among students.