CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS OF IT UNDERGRADUATES IN AN EASTERN REGION UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) investigate the level of cyber security threat awareness among undergraduate students in the Faculty of Information Technology at a higher education institution in the Eastern region university, and 2) compare the levels of cyber security threat awareness among these students based on personal demographic factors. This quantitative study employed a survey research design. The sample consisted of 147 undergraduate students selected through simple random sampling from a total population of 218 students. The research instrument was a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (One-way ANOVA).

            The findings revealed that the students had a high level of awareness regarding cyber security threats ( =3.71, SD=0.94). When analyzed by personal demographic factors, it was found that gender, age, and year of study did not significantly affect the level of cyber security threat awareness. However, students with different levels of experience in studying Cyber Security courses and participation in Cyber Security training or seminars exhibited statistically significant differences in their awareness of cyber security threats at the .05 level of statistical significance.