An Analysis of Smartphone Security Practices among Undergraduate Business Students at a Regional Public University

International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology. University of the West Indies Open Campus, Dave Hill, St. Michael BB11000, Barbados. Tel: 868-663-9021; Fax: 868-645-9741; Web site: http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/.

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18

State Universities; Undergraduate Students; Telecommunications; Handheld Devices; Risk; Information Security; Business Administration Education; Computer Software; Student Attitudes; Student Surveys; Gender Differences; Student Behavior

1814-0556

In 2019, the number of smartphone users in the United States was estimated to be over 266 million, or 81% of the population. While smartphones, combined with a plethora of apps that are readily available, have become wholly integrated into our daily lives, they embody a multitude of risks for consumers. The purpose of this study is to assess smartphone security practices among undergraduate business students at a regional public university. In December 2019, a survey focusing on security-related practices was administered to students in multiple business classes at the university. The results of the survey show that students exhibit a high degree of care on some measures of security, but they are rather lax in other areas. Males exhibit evidence of some more risky behaviors than their female counterparts. Those who have lost their phones in the past are more likely to be familiar with some disaster preparedness phone features and they are more likely to insure their smartphones.

As Provided

2020

EJ1254930