MODERN CYBERSECURITY

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed cybersecurity, enabling attackers to use AI-enhanced social engineering techniques to exploit human behavior and bypass traditional defenses. This study investigates the impact of AI-driven social engineering attacks on modern cybersecurity, using the University of Benin (UNIBEN) student population as a case study. A survey was administered to 140 respondents to assess awareness, exposure, and perceptions of AI-powered scams, including phishing, deepfake impersonation, voice cloning, and chatbot-based attacks. The findings indicate that a majority of students (95%) are aware of social media scams, with 56% reporting prior victimization. Fake social media accounts, WhatsApp/Telegram scams, and phishing emails were the most commonly encountered threats. Participants reported difficulty distinguishing AI-generated attacks from human-driven scams, highlighting a significant vulnerability. The study further identifies gaps in current cybersecurity measures and emphasizes the need for enhanced awareness, training, and AI-aware defense frameworks. The results contribute to understanding the evolving threat landscape of AI- enhanced social engineering and provide actionable insights for improving digital security in academic institutions and beyond.