A Scale Development and Application Study on Smartphone Security Awareness

This study aims to assess the extent of smartphone security awareness among students pursuing an associate degree and to ascertain if there are substantial variations in smartphone security awareness based on certain demographic variables. Furthermore, its objective is to uncover the correlation between smartphone security awareness and proficiency in digital literacy. The Smartphone Security Awareness Scale was initially designed with this particular aim. The scale comprises nine items that are measured along a single dimension, accounting for 39.6% of the overall variation. The scale's reliability coefficient was found to be 0.78. The study sample comprised 612 associate degree students pursuing further education in two vocational colleges. The data were obtained using the internet and voluntarily. The data indicate that associate degree students had a high level of awareness regarding smartphone security. There was no significant difference in smartphone security awareness based on gender, use of security software, participation in information security training, and level of care regarding the privacy and safeguarding of personal data. No significant relationship was found between smartphone security awareness and smartphone ownership duration. However, significant differences were found according to experience of security problems and competence in using information technologies. A positive, significant, and moderate correlation was discovered between smartphone security awareness and proficiency in digital literacy. The scale devised during the investigation can be utilised in other future studies. According to the results obtained in this direction, training and seminars can be organised to increase smartphone security awareness.