Mobile Identity Protection: The Moderation Role of Self-Efficacy

The rapid growth of mobile applications and the associated increased dependency on digital identity raises the growing risk of identity theft and related fraud. Hence, protecting identity in a mobile environment is a problem. This study develops a model that examines the role of identity protection self-efficacy in increasing users’ motivation intentions to achieve actual mobile identity protection. Our research found that self-efficacy significantly affects the relationship between users’ perceived threat appraisal and their motivational intentions for identity protection. The relation between mobile users’ protection, motivational intentions, and actual mobile identity protection actions was also found to be significant. Additionally, the findings revealed the considerable impact of awareness in fully mediating between self-efficacy and actual identity protection. The model and its hypotheses are empirically tested through a survey of 383 mobile users, and the findings are validated through a panel of experts, thus confirming the impact of self-efficacy on an individual’s identity protection in the mobile context

The Mediating Role of Awareness in Bridging the Expectancy-Capability Gap in Mobile Identity Protection

AlHelaly, Y., Dhillon, G., & Oliveira, T. (2023). When Expectation Fails and Motivation Prevails: The Mediating Role of Awareness in Bridging the Expectancy-Capability Gap in Mobile Identity Protection. Computers & Security, 134(November), 1-20. [103470]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2023.103470Identity theft poses a significant threat to mobile users, yet mobile identity protection is often overlooked in cybersecurity literature. Despite various technical solutions proposed, little attention has been given to the motivational aspects of protection. Moreover, the disparity between individuals' expectations and their ability to safeguard their mobile identities exacerbates the problem. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach and draws on expectancy-value theory to address these gaps and explore the impact of expectations, capabilities, motivational values, technical measures, and awareness on individuals' intentions to achieve mobile identity protection. Our research reveals that protection awareness acts as a crucial mediator between individuals' expectations and capabilities. Additionally, motivational values not only enhance technical protection measures but also significantly influence identity protection intentions. Furthermore, we identify the moderating effect of protection experience on individuals' expectations and perceived value of identity protection. This study contributes to mobile security literature by highlighting the pivotal role of protection awareness in bridging the divide between individual expectations and actual capabilities in mobile identity protection.publishersversionpublishe

Using the Expectancy-Value Theory of Motivation to Understand the Gaps in Mobile Identity Protection.

Identity theft continues to pose a serious problem to mobile users. Although many cybersecurity experts have warned that mobiles will be a favorable gateway for hackers to steal user identities, mobile context is being frequently neglected in identity protection literature. Despite the many technical means that have been proposed to solve the problem, motivational aspects of protection are largely overlooked. Further, the discrepancy between individual expectations to protect mobile identities and actual capabilities aggravates the problem. Using the motivational concepts of expectancy-value theory, this study uses a mixed-methods approach to understand the expectancy-capability gap, the motivational-protection gap, and the impact of motivation on the individual intentions to achieve mobile identity protection. We use in-depth interviews to develop a model that is subsequently used in a quantitative study