Spyware: What influences college students to use anti-spyware tools?

The purpose of this paper is to better understand what factors influence college students to run anti-spyware tools, with the hopes of finding ways to better inform future students about the spyware epidemic and ways to combat spyware. In order to determine what influences students to use anti-spyware tools, we conducted multiple structured interviews (n=10) and a survey (n=68). These provided insight into the factors influencing students to run anti-spyware tools. We also found significant differences between Computer Information Systems (CIS) majors and non-CIS majors in their usage of anti-spyware software. Our research suggests that Attitude, Perceived Behavioral Control,and Technology Awareness have the most impact on influencing a college student’s intentions to use anti-spyware tools.