ERIC Number: EJ1383874
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0888-4080
EISSN: EISSN-1099-0720
Which Phish Is Captured in the Net? Understanding Phishing Susceptibility and Individual Differences
Sarno, Dawn M.; Harris, Maggie W.; Black, Jeffrey
Applied Cognitive Psychology, v37 n4 p789-803 Jul-Aug 2023
Phishing research presents conflicting findings regarding the psychological predictors of phishing susceptibility. The present work aimed to resolve these discrepancies by utilizing a diverse online sample and email set. Participants completed a survey that included an email classification task and measured several individual differences, including phishing awareness, age, impulsivity, curiosity, and personality (the Big-5). Phishing susceptibility was measured by participants' ability to distinguish between phishing and legitimate emails. Three regression analyses were performed to predict email discrimination ability; (1) an age model, (2) a deficient self-regulation model (i.e., impulsivity, response times, and curiosity), and (3) a personality (i.e., the Big-5) model. Overall, phishing susceptibility was predicted by younger age, higher levels of impulsivity and extraversion, lower levels of openness to experience and agreeableness, and quick responses. The present work identifies several populations that are particularly vulnerable to phishing attacks and may require targeted training interventions.
Descriptors: Computer Security, Electronic Mail, Deception, At Risk Persons, Victims of Crime, Knowledge Level, Age, Self Control, Predictor Variables, Personality Measures, Individual Differences, Informed Consent
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2191/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Big Five Inventory
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A