Thwarting Instant Messaging Phishing Attacks: The Role of Self-Efficacy and the Mediating Effect of Attitude towards Online Sharing of Personal Information

Context: The cause of cybercrime phishing threats in Malaysia is a lack of knowledge and awareness of phishing. Objective: The effects of self-efficacy (the ability to gain anti-phishing knowledge) and protection motivation (attitude toward sharing personal information online) on the risk of instant messaging phishing attacks (phishing susceptibility) are investigated in this study. The protection motivation theory (PMT) was tested in the context of attitudes toward sharing personal information online with a view to improving interventions to reduce the risk of phishing victimisation. Methods: Data were collected using non-probability purposive sampling. An online survey of 328 Malaysian active instant messaging users was collected and analysed in SmartPLS version 4.0.8.6 using partial least squares structural equation modelling. Results: The results showed that a person’s cognitive factor (either high or low self-efficacy) affected their chance of being a victim of instant message phishing. A higher level of self-efficacy and a negative attitude towards sharing personal information online were significant predictors of phishing susceptibility. A negative attitude towards sharing personal information online mediated the relationship between high levels of self-efficacy and phishing susceptibility. A higher level of self-efficacy led to the formation of negative attitudes among internet users. Attitudes toward the sharing of personal information online are critical because they allow phishing attempts to exist and succeed. Conclusions: The findings give government agencies more information on how to organise anti-phishing campaigns and awareness programmes; awareness and education can improve one’s ability to acquire anti-phishing knowledge (self-efficacy).