Work

Mindless Response or Mindful Interpretation: Examining the Effect of Message Influence on Phishing Susceptibility

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Influence-based deceptive messages constantly play a critical role in email phishing attacks. However, the literature lacks adequate understanding about how phishing messages with attractive and coercive influence result in the receivers’ adverse consequences. We therefore take the perspective of mindless response and mindful interpretation to address this issue by examining comprehensive relationships among message influence, cognitive processing, and phishing susceptibility. To accomplish this, a survey approach was adopted after a simulated phishing attack was conducted in campuses. Our empirical evidence shows that both message influence and cognitive processing can lead to people being phished, and a combination of different influences can also trigger cognitive processing. This research makes contributions to the literature of information security, persuading influence, and cognitive psychology.

Source: Sustainability

DOI: 10.3390/su13041651

Authors: Frank Kun-Yueh Chou, Abbott Po-Shun Chen, Vincent Cheng-Lung Lo

Institutions: Fu Jen Catholic University, Chaoyang University of Technology, National Central University

Language: English

Topic: Spam and Phishing Detection

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,052

Funder: Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan