OKOEBOR IRABOR PRINCE-COLLINS

This study investigates the susceptibility of students at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) to phishing attacks and examines how to promote sustainable, safe email usage within the academic environment. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study collected quantitative data through structured surveys and qualitative insights from interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. The findings reveal that while students have a basic awareness of phishing, their understanding is superficial and they often rely on visual cues, which increases their vulnerability. Additionally, the current email security measures at UNIBEN—such as basic spam filters and password-based authentication—prove insufficient against sophisticated phishing tactics. The qualitative data further indicate that a lack of practical, hands-on cybersecurity training contributes significantly to the risk, with many students calling for interactive training and simulated phishing exercises. Based on these insights, the study concludes that enhancing both technical security measures and cybersecurity education is essential to reduce phishing susceptibility. Recommendations include implementing comprehensive, practical training programs, upgrading security protocols with multi-factor authentication, establishing formal incident reporting systems, and fostering a proactive cybersecurity culture. These steps are expected to strengthen the overall security of UNIBEN’s email system and promote a resilient academic environment.