JISAR

Abstract: Information security is an ongoing concern for all of us. Email is frequently the attack vector of choice for hackers and is large concern for campus IT organizations. This paper attempts to gain insight into what drives the email security behaviors of undergraduate students at one midwestern public, master’s granting university by surveying students in an introductory computing course about their email security behavior. The survey questions are developed based on Health Belief Model and used to measure eight constructs including behavior, perceived barriers to practice, self-efficacy, cues to action, prior security experience, perceived vulnerability, perceived benefits, and perceived severity. The perceived benefits and self-efficacy variables were found to be the most important factors that affect students’ security behaviors. The findings of this study may help shed light on how universities can better prepare students to handle this critical information security concern.

Keywords: email security behavior, health belief model, intentions, Survey

Download this article: JISAR - V11 N3 Page 14.pdf

Recommended Citation: Schymik, G., Du, J. (2018). Student Intentions and Behaviors Related to Email Security: An Application of the Health Belief Model . Journal of Information Systems Applied Research, 11(3) pp 14-24. http://jisar.org/2018-11/ ISSN: 1946-1836. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of CONISAR 2017)