Examining Security Awareness Level on Emerging Internet of Things (Iot) Usage to the end USER in ARUSHA TANZANIA

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine Security Awareness Level On emerging Internet of Things (IoT) Usage to the End User in Arusha. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the emerging network of Internet connected smart devices. It assists to transmit data among devices, tracing and monitoring smart devices and other things. Several authors worldwide have predicted that if security issues are not addressed then level of awareness will be hugely impacted. Other authors noted that, users often trade security and privacy for convenience. In the light this concept one of this study’s questions is, to what extent does the end user security awareness imply in the usage of Internet of Things technology. This quantitative and experimental study was purposely designed to examine the level of end user knowledge focusing on awareness of cyber attacks and cyber security with the intent to close the gap in knowledge about the level of security awareness on the emerging IoT usage among end users in Arusha. The population of this study is Arusha young and adult users of Internet connected smart devices(home and office use). The theoretical framework was Bandura(1986) social cognitive theory, following the idea that learning occurs in social context with the reciprocal interaction of a person, environment and behavior. Data were collected using modified online questionnaire through google forms and statistical analysis tool was done using SPSS software to answer research questions related to the extent that security awareness implies in the usage of IoT among users. The findings of the study showed that although the number of the IoT adopters and users is statistically high, the level of security and privacy awareness of those users is almost negligible, most users still believe that the information they feed in their IoT gadgets remain within their discretion. Other factors such as demography were not significant reasons in the extent of adoption and usage of IoT technology. The findings of this research may be used to empower users with prior knowledge of cyber security and risks, increase their awareness and valuable information to IoT manufactures and service providers on their users knowledge