The Influence of Students' Characteristics on Mobile Device Security Measures

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the influence of students' characteristics majors, maturity, and gender on mobile device security practices in the context of a developing country. Focusing on graduate and undergraduate students from both public and private universities, participants' characteristics were measured against three approaches of mobile devices security practices user-behavior and activities, device settings, and disaster recovery. The sample consisted of 375 students from two public universities and three private university colleges. The results found that Technology and Engineering students differ statistically from Business and Arts students in terms of mobile device settings and disaster recovery practices. The undergraduate students were less engaged in risky activities with their devices compared with the graduate students. Moreover, the younger students were more cautious than the older students regarding user-behavior and device settings. Finally, female students were more negligent when it comes to setting the devices to militate against security threats.