Awareness of Internet Browsing Security among Undergraduates inRajarata University of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Internet users face some problems and are particularly vulnerable to unwanted third parties due to depend on the internet for their use. Especially, the students who are studying in higher institutions are surfing the internet for many purposes without considering safe browsing. Evidence of literature and the results of the pilot study motivated the researchers to assess the levels of internet browsing security awareness among undergraduates of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and to suggest security measures to overcome internet vulnerabilities. Data were collected from 300 undergraduates within six faculties using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was aimed on awareness of students in terms of three variables including knowledge of malware, use of strong password, and knowledge of third-party security towards the awareness of internet browsing security. The collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, measure of central tendency and measure of dispersion used to measure the way of responses. The hypotheses were tested using correlation analysis and regression analysis. All the hypotheses were accepted while supporting 52 percent explanatory power of independent variables on awareness of internet browsing security. Then the researchers could identify and verify the level of awareness regarding the secured browsing behaviour of the undergraduates that are not atsatisfactory level. Further, based on the findings, the researchers recommended that the university should organize programs to increase the level of knowledge of undergraduates about safe internet browsing. First, it should be started by the faculty level and should track the progress of undergraduate safe browsing behaviour while expanding the study over to other government Universities in Sri Lanka.