Browsing by Author "Mjema,Lucas"

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Innovating Cybersecurity in Tanzanian Academia: A Mobile Tool for Combatting Social Engineering Threats
(DRPM-UBD, 2025-03-22) Mjema,Lucas; Mgawe,Bonny; Dida,Mussa
Social engineering attacks, including phishing, smishing, and vishing, pose significant threats to higher learning institutions, especially in regions with limited cybersecurity awareness and weak incident reporting mechanisms. This study introduces a novel mobile tool that combines real-time threat detection, streamlined reporting, and personalized training to address these vulnerabilities. Using a mixed-methods approach, we gathered survey data from 395 participants, conducted interviews with 10 IT professionals, and ran a pilot test with 20 users. The proposed tool provides instant scanning of emails/SMS for social engineering content and instant incident reporting alongside interactive, bilingual (English/Swahili) training modules. Results show a substantial improvement in user awareness, 85% of users reported a better understanding of social engineering threats after using the app, and high user satisfaction, with 90% expressing approval of the intuitive interface. The integration of real-time threat analysis and immediate reporting with tailored education distinguishes our tool from existing solutions. We discuss how bilingual support broadened engagement and how personalized learning paths reinforced retention of security best practices. Our findings demonstrate that a mobile-based, user-centric approach can significantly bolster cybersecurity awareness and incident response in academic environments. Future work will integrate machine learning for enhanced threat detection and voice-guided features for accessibility, aiming to continuously adapt to evolving attack strategies. This research provides insights for policymakers on incorporating such tools into broader institutional cybersecurity strategies.
Mobile-based application for assessing and reporting social-engineering vulnerabilities in higher learn ing institutions: a tanzanian multi-institutional study
(NM-AIST, 2025-08) Mjema,Lucas
This study developed a mobile-based application for assessing and reporting social-engineering vulnerabilities in Tanzanian higher learning institutions (HLIs). Social-engineering attacks such as phishing, smishing, vishing, baiting and pretexting, continue to threaten campus data security, yet existing detection and reporting mechanisms are slow and fragmented. Guided by the theories of reasoned action, protection motivation and technology acceptance, a mixed methods approach was used: a targeted literature review, a questionnaire survey of 395 students, academic and administrative staff, and semi-structured interviews with ten cybersecurity experts informed the functional requirements. An Agile development cycle produced a bilingual Android application that integrates interactive self-assessment quizzes, instant incident-reporting forms and tailored awareness content. Results showed that 74% of respondents recognised social-engineering threats, but only 38% had received formal training, and just 32% of incidents were officially reported. Pilot deployment in four stratified institutions yielded 95% overall user satisfaction and 100% successful login/registration, demonstrating strong acceptance of the mobile solution. All ten critical system-test cases passed on first run (100% task-success, zero functional errors), the mean System-Usability-Scale score reached 85.4/100, and Locust stress-tests sustained 1000 concurrent writes with sub-250 ms latency, quantitatively confirming the app’s reliability, usability and scalability. The resulting tool provides administrators with a scalable, low-cost channel for continuous threat intelligence, informs national higher education ICT policy on integrating mobile cyber-awareness solutions, and offers a replicable development blueprint for institutions in comparable low-resource settings. The study concludes that converging assessment, reporting and awareness in a single mobile application can substantially strengthen proactive cybersecurity culture across Tanzania’s diverse HLI landscape.