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Real or bogus: Predicting susceptibility to phishing with economic experiments

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  • Yan Chen
  • Iman YeckehZaare
  • Ark Fangzhou Zhang

Abstract

We present a lab-in-the-field experiment to demonstrate how individual behavior in the lab predicts their ability to identify phishing attempts. Using the business and finance staff members from a large public university in the U.S., we find that participants who are intolerant of risk, more curious, and less trusting commit significantly more errors when evaluating interfaces. We also replicate prior results on demographic correlates of phishing vulnerability, including age, gender, and education level. Our results suggest that behavioral characteristics such as intolerance of risk, curiosity, and trust can be used to predict individual ability to identify phishing interfaces.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Chen & Iman YeckehZaare & Ark Fangzhou Zhang, 2018. "Real or bogus: Predicting susceptibility to phishing with economic experiments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0198213
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198213
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Carl F Weems & Irfan Ahmed & Golden G Richard III & Justin D Russell & Erin L Neill, 2018. "Susceptibility and resilience to cyber threat: Findings from a scenario decision program to measure secure and insecure computing behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(12), pages 1-18, December.

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