Critical Analysis of Mobile Phone Communication Safety and Security Measures: Familiarity versus Actual Practice on Mobile Devices

The use of mobile communicating devices such as mobile phones has become one of the most popular contemporary methods of exchange of information in the world. Since Nigeria is currently Africa's largest mobile phone market subscriber, the focus of this study was to evaluate how university students (prospective employees) in Nigeria (Africa's most populous country) use and manage mobile phone devices safety and security measures. An interesting finding in this study is that respondent's age, academic major, prior knowledge/experience with computers and the number of hours they had waited for their mobile phone device to be repaired after a malfunction directly affect their level of familiarity and usage of mobile phone safety and security measures. A very low percentage of students take steps to safeguard and use passwords on their mobile phones. Furthermore, this study could provide guidelines and strategies to help avoid and reduce falling prey to insecurities associated with cyber-crimes and target areas requiring security emphasis for students.