A Model for The Adoption of Cyber Hygiene Among University Students in Zimbabwe

Abstract

With technological advancements and the widespread use of the internet, university students are more connected than ever before. However, this increased connectivity also brings about significant risks and vulnerabilities, making it crucial for students to adopt effective cyber hygiene practices to protect themselves and their digital assets. One way to help young people to become less vulnerable to cyber-attacks is to foster a culture of cyber hygiene amongst them through cyber hygiene knowledge. Therefore, this study seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge by coming up with a comprehensive model for the adoption of cyber hygiene among university students. This study extended the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) Model by adding two new independent variables and constructs which are perceived risk and awareness. The study adopted a survey research design and collected data from 303 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The results revealed that perceived risk and awareness are key factors in the adoption of cyber hygiene among university students. Based on these key findings, we recommend that universities must address the issue of risk perceptions and increase on awareness in order to promote cyber-resilient behaviors amongst university students.