Exploring factors influencing information security and protection behavior on social networks: a case study of Makerere University students

Abstract

The cross-sectional study Exploring Factors Influencing Information Security and Protection Behavior on Social Networks, A Case Study of Makerere University Students, had the following to find out the level of information security and protection behaviour among Makerere students on social media networks, to find out the effect of demographic factors on information security and protection behaviour among Makerere students on social media networks, and to find out the effect of social media usage on information privacy and protection behaviour among Makerere students on social media networks. A total of 102 respondents were interviewed who were chosen using simple random sampling. The study has revealed that information privacy among Makerere university students on social network sites is influenced by year of study and type of device used on social network sites whereby respondents in higher years of study had better information privacy as compared to those in lower years of study. Those using computers enjoyed more information privacy as compared to those using only their smartphones. Further protection behaviour was found to be significant among students in higher years of study. Among social network usage, it was revealed that the number of social network sites affected information security and protection behaviour whereby it was revealed that students who had higher numbers of social network sites had lower levels of information security but had higher levels of protection behaviour. Since the study found that having higher numbers of social network sites reduced information security of respondents, it is important for the university and civil rights organizations to carryout sensitization programs to inform the students on the dangers of having very many social network sites which they had handle.