Security practices of smartphone users at UKZN Westville Campus and its effects on the institutional information systems.

Abstract

Technology has evolved through the years and brought about innovations in telecommunication tools such as smartphones, widely used today for various reasons, like educational purposes. Similar to other mobile devices, smartphones are prone to online attacks, and their usage on a university network may lead to cyber-attacks on a university's information systems. Many universities utilise information systems such as mobile websites and mobile applications like Office Outlook email, Moodle and Turnitin. Therefore, ensuring adequate online security is fundamental to mitigate online threats, but such actions are disregarded by most students who are considered the security administrators of their smartphones. This study used a quantitative research method to assess smartphone users' security practices at the UKZN Westville Campus and its effects on the Institutional Information Systems. The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s information systems includes a mobile website that enables students to access UKZN student central for academic and support services. The university also uses mobile applications such as MyUKZN, Turnitin and Moodle. The study gathered data via paper-based and online questionnaires from the University of KwaZulu-Natal students that own and use smartphones to connect to the internet via the university’s WIFI on campus. The findings of this study revealed that online threats might occur through students disregard for the university's online security guidelines. Some students’ lack of online security knowledge was also discovered, making these individuals’ smartphones possible entry points for online attacks. Regardless of online security skill level, students demonstrated inconsistent security behaviour. The above mentioned inadequate security practices by students can result in the UKZN experiencing a data breach, financial loss, disruption of services, intellectual property theft, and much more damages. The findings further indicated that students that possess good security skills do not readily implement security measures because the process is assumed to be stressful.