Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are cybersecurity threats that have become increasingly sophisticated. Phishing is a cyberattack that can be carried out using various approaches and techniques. Usually, an attacker uses trickery as well as fraudulent and disguised means to steal valuable personal information or to...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-11-01
|
| Series: | Information |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/11/12/547 |
| _version_ | 1797546787146301440 |
|---|---|
| author | Dania Aljeaid Amal Alzhrani Mona Alrougi Oroob Almalki |
| author_facet | Dania Aljeaid Amal Alzhrani Mona Alrougi Oroob Almalki |
| author_sort | Dania Aljeaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phishing attacks are cybersecurity threats that have become increasingly sophisticated. Phishing is a cyberattack that can be carried out using various approaches and techniques. Usually, an attacker uses trickery as well as fraudulent and disguised means to steal valuable personal information or to deceive the victim into running malicious code, thereby gaining access and controlling the victim’s systems. This study focuses on evaluating the level of cybersecurity knowledge and cyber awareness in Saudi Arabia. It is aimed at assessing end-user susceptibility through three phishing attack simulations. Furthermore, we elaborate on some of the concepts related to phishing attacks and review the steps required to launch such attacks. Subsequently, we briefly discuss the tools and techniques associated with each attack simulation. Finally, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to assess and evaluate the results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:34:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9104bd8f171847f8901dea9cf7a45bae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2078-2489 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:34:09Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Information |
| spelling | doaj.art-9104bd8f171847f8901dea9cf7a45bae2023-11-20T22:19:45ZengMDPI AGInformation2078-24892020-11-01111254710.3390/info11120547Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing AttacksDania Aljeaid0Amal Alzhrani1Mona Alrougi2Oroob Almalki3Department of Information System, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Information System, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Information System, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Information System, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, KingAbdulaziz University, Jeddah 21551, Saudi ArabiaPhishing attacks are cybersecurity threats that have become increasingly sophisticated. Phishing is a cyberattack that can be carried out using various approaches and techniques. Usually, an attacker uses trickery as well as fraudulent and disguised means to steal valuable personal information or to deceive the victim into running malicious code, thereby gaining access and controlling the victim’s systems. This study focuses on evaluating the level of cybersecurity knowledge and cyber awareness in Saudi Arabia. It is aimed at assessing end-user susceptibility through three phishing attack simulations. Furthermore, we elaborate on some of the concepts related to phishing attacks and review the steps required to launch such attacks. Subsequently, we briefly discuss the tools and techniques associated with each attack simulation. Finally, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to assess and evaluate the results.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/11/12/547cybersecurityphishing attacksattack simulationcybersecurity awareness |
| spellingShingle | Dania Aljeaid Amal Alzhrani Mona Alrougi Oroob Almalki Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks Information cybersecurity phishing attacks attack simulation cybersecurity awareness |
| title | Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks |
| title_full | Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks |
| title_short | Assessment of End-User Susceptibility to Cybersecurity Threats in Saudi Arabia by Simulating Phishing Attacks |
| title_sort | assessment of end user susceptibility to cybersecurity threats in saudi arabia by simulating phishing attacks |
| topic | cybersecurity phishing attacks attack simulation cybersecurity awareness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-2489/11/12/547 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT daniaaljeaid assessmentofendusersusceptibilitytocybersecuritythreatsinsaudiarabiabysimulatingphishingattacks AT amalalzhrani assessmentofendusersusceptibilitytocybersecuritythreatsinsaudiarabiabysimulatingphishingattacks AT monaalrougi assessmentofendusersusceptibilitytocybersecuritythreatsinsaudiarabiabysimulatingphishingattacks AT oroobalmalki assessmentofendusersusceptibilitytocybersecuritythreatsinsaudiarabiabysimulatingphishingattacks |