Impact of Users’ Security Awareness on Desktop Security Behavior: A Protection Motivation Theory Perspective

ABSTRACT

This article uses the protection motivation theory to study the impact of information security awareness on desktop security behavior. It contributes to the literature by examining the roles played by awareness, an important antecedent to the cognitive processes in the protection motivation theory. The findings indicate that security awareness significantly affects perceived severity, response efficacy, self-efficacy, and response cost. Constructs in the coping appraisal process (except response cost), in turn, significantly impact recommended security behavior.

KEYWORDS:

• Information security awareness
• protection motivation theory
• countermeasures
• threats

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bartlomiej Hanus

Bartlomiej Hanus is an assistant professor in the School of Business at Emporia State University. He received a PhD in Business Computer Information Systems from the University of North Texas. He also holds an MS in Information Technologies from University of North Texas. His research interests include information security, cloud computing, data analytics (with focus on web mining), and decision making under stress.

Yu “Andy” Wu

Yu “Andy” Wu is an associate professor in the Department of Information Technology and Decision Sciences, College of Business at the University of North Texas. He received a PhD (2007) and an MS (2003) in MIS from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL. Andy’s primary research interests include information security and social networks. His articles appeared in journals such as IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, Informing Science, Journal of Organizational and End User Computing, Information Resource Management Journal, and the proceedings of a number of international conferences. Before his academic career, Andy had 7 years of experiences in various technical and business positions.