Smartphone security behavior among university students: an empirical study in a public university in Bangladesh

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the smartphone security behavior of the students of a public university in Bangladesh by focusing on the security measures obtained and potential risky practices performed by them while using smartphones. Design/methodology/approach This study used a quantitative method for collecting data from the students using a purposive sampling technique. A total of 304 students participated in this study who use smartphones in their daily lives. A structured questionnaire was designed using Google Forms for collecting data. The collected data were analyzed using MS Excel and SPSS. Findings Most of the participants used two-factor authentication, biometric security features and strong and unique passwords for their important accounts and apps on their smartphones. They also performed potentially risky practices such as connecting to public Wi-Fi networks without using a virtual private network, downloading apps and files from unofficial sources and using public charging cables to charge smartphones. However, students’ smartphone security measures were greatly influenced by their gender, faculty/ institute, experience of using smartphones and type of internet connection used, and the performance of the risky practices varied based on their gender, age group and experience of using smartphones. Originality/value This study offers a unique contribution to the limited literature in Bangladesh by concentrating on university students’ smartphone security behaviors, encompassing both preventive strategies and risky habits.