Empirical investigation of the determinants of cybersecurity behaviour among South Africans

dc.contributor.advisorAdebesin, Funmi
dc.contributor.emailu14006040@tuks.co.zaen_US
dc.contributor.postgraduateSampson, Sindisiwe
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-22T09:44:32Z
dc.date.available2023-11-22T09:44:32Z
dc.date.created2024-04-01
dc.date.issued2023
dc.descriptionDissertation (MCom (Informatics))--University of Pretoria, 2023.en_US
dc.description.abstractCybercrime is a borderless threat that affects both developed and developing countries and continues to grow. According to the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), in 2022 the average cost of data breach across the globe was $4.35 million. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated the digital landscapes of many countries, including South Africa. Subsequently, there was an increase in incidents of cyberattacks globally. Good cybersecurity behaviour encompasses the actions undertaken by individuals to protect their data, devices, and networks from cyberattacks. Consequently, this study investigated the factors that could influence the cybersecurity behaviours of South Africans and determine the factors that could exert the greatest impact on their cybersecurity behaviours. The study employed an online questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 329 South African participants. The theoretical frameworks used included Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The findings revealed that an individual's intention to engage in good cybersecurity behaviours is significantly influenced by their Attitude towards good cybersecurity behaviours, Subjective norms, Perceived severity, and Response efficacy. Moreover, the study results revealed Perceived severity as a mediator in the relationship between Perceived vulnerability and Intention to practice good cybersecurity behaviours. The research findings underscore the importance of influencing these factors to effectively promote good cybersecurity behaviours amongst South Africans. Targeting and changing Attitudes towards good cybersecurity behaviours, Subjective norms, Perceived severity, and Response efficacy, could increase the practice of good cybersecurity behaviours in South Africans and mitigate the risks associated with cyberthreats.en_US
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_US
dc.description.degreeMCom (Informatics)en_US
dc.description.departmentInformaticsen_US
dc.description.facultyFaculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technologyen_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureen_US
dc.identifier.citation*en_US
dc.identifier.doi10.25403/UPresearchdata.24598980en_US
dc.identifier.otherA2024en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/93388
dc.identifier.uriDOI: https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.24598980.v1
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.rights© 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
dc.subjectUCTDen_US
dc.subjectCybersecurityen_US
dc.subjectCybersecurity behaviouren_US
dc.subjectInformation security behaviouren_US
dc.subjectTheory of planned behaviouren_US
dc.subjectProtection motivation theoryen_US
dc.subjectSouth Africaen_US
dc.subject.otherEngineering, built environment and information technology theses SDG-09
dc.subject.otherSDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
dc.titleEmpirical investigation of the determinants of cybersecurity behaviour among South Africansen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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