Building a Secure Digital Future: Investigating Cyber Hygiene Levels of Accounting, Finance, and Business Students

Abstract structured in:Introduction: This study aims to investigate the level of cyber hygiene among accounting, finance and business students, to identify strengths and weaknesses to inform the development of cybersecurity in education.Methods: A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing an objective online test to assess cyber hygiene knowledge. The instrument was validated through tests of validity, difficulty level, discriminatory power, and reliability. The study sample consisted of students in finance, administration and business. Data analysis involved statistical methods to compare awareness levels across the three student groups.Results: The results indicated that administration students had the highest overall cyber hygiene awareness, particularly in areas such as Rules & Laws, Access & Password, and Security Settings. Business students showed moderate awareness, while accounting students demonstrated significant gaps, especially in Web Access and Social Media Safety. The findings highlighted the need for targeted educational interventions to address specific weaknesses in each group.Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of cyber hygiene education, especially for accounting, finance, and business students, to prevent cyber incidents. The findings provide actionable insights for the development of curricula and training programs, which contribute to a safer digital environment in professional settings. Further research should expand sample sizes, incorporate qualitative methods, and explore the long-term effectiveness of cyber hygiene education