Towards Determining the Effect of Age and Educational Level on Cyber-Hygiene

• Main Authors: Ugwu, Celestine, Ani, Casimir, Ezema, Modesta, Asogwa, Caroline, Ome, Uchenna, Obayi, Adaora, Ebem, Deborah, Olebara, Comfort, Ukwandu, Elochukwu
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; and Level of education; Conferences; COVID-19; Cyber-attack; Cyber-hygiene; Education; Mobile handsets; Pandemics; Portable computers; Safety
• ISSN: 2377-2697
• DOI: 10.1109/NIGERCON54645.2022.9803154

With the increasing rate of internet related challenges such as cyber-attacks, it has become imperative for users to adopt safe practices while using the internet. This safety measures are known as cyber-hygiene. As universities are making tremendous efforts towards minimising the rate of cyber-attacks in higher education, keeping good cyber-hygiene culture among faculty employees and students will play a critical role. Cyber-attacks sophistication has become a global issue, especially now that virtually all business transactions, learning, and communication are gradually becoming online as part of the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. To be able to conduct this study, a qualitative research methodology was employed for an exploratory online study of cyber-hygiene among students and employees of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the study, 316 responses were used, and the findings revealed that age and level of education do not have statistical significance on the cyber hygiene culture and behaviour of the respondents. Also, it was discovered that mobile phone is the most widely used device with 50.26%, followed by laptop with 35.65%. Findings also showed that 159 (50.32%) respondents were found to have low cyber-hygiene culture while 157 (49.68%) respondents have high cyber hygiene culture. Hence, participants portray poor cyber-hygiene.