ISiM Special Lecture (17) “Individual Differences in Phishing Susceptibility

[Roopa Gurav]

International School of Information Management
University of Mysore

ISiM Special Lecture (17)

“Individual Differences in Phishing Susceptibility: An Integrated Information Processing Model”


by

Dr. Arun Vishwanath, Ph.D., MBA
Director of Graduate Studies
Associate Professor
Department of Communication
Adjunct Associate Professor
Management Science & Systems
State University of New York at Buffalo
USA


Date and Time: November 30, 2011 : 11:00 AM

You are cordially invited

Dr.Shalini R Urs
Executive Director and Professor



Abstract: This study presents an integrated information processing model of phishing susceptibility grounded in prior research in information process and interpersonal deception. The model is refined and validated on a sample of intended victims of an actual phishing attack. The data provides strong support for the model’s theoretical structure and causative sequence, explaining close to fifty percent of the variance in individual phishing susceptibility. The results indicate that most phishing emails are peripherally processed and individuals make decisions based on simple cues embedded in the email. Interestingly, urgency cues in the email stimulated increased information processing thereby short circuiting the resources available for attending to other cues that could potentially help detect the deception. Additionally, the findings suggest that habitual patterns of media use combined with high levels of email load have a strong and significant influence on individuals’ likelihood to be phished. Consistent with social cognitive theory, computer self-efficacy was found to significantly influence elaboration, but its influence was mitigated by domain specific-knowledge. The presentation covers the model, its tests, the findings of the study, as well as the ways in which individuals can reduce their susceptibility to phishing based deception.

Speaker Bio:

Arun Vishwanath, Ph.D., MBA, is Associate Professor of Communication and the Director of the Graduate Program at the University at Buffalo. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Management Science & Systems. His research focuses on cognitive, affective, and behavioral consequences of information on technology adopting units ranging from individual consumers and households to cultures and health care organizations. His research takes a systems theoretic approach and focuses on the dynamic, embedded nature of decision-making within interdependent system domains and the role of information in shaping the present and future states of such systems.

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INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore -570006
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