Cyber Hygiene Practices among University Students: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Institutions

Abstract

The academic experiences of university students in Pakistan are increasingly mediated by digital technologies, making cyber hygiene a critical component of safe and effective participation in higher education. Despite this shift, the cyber hygiene behaviors of students, particularly those studying in institutions located outside major metropolitan centers, remain insufficiently examined. This study investigates the cyber hygiene practices of undergraduate students enrolled in BSCS and IT programs across public and private universities in Multan. It aims to determine whether institutional type contributes to significant differences in cybersecurity related behaviors. An exploratory, quantitative research design was employed using a structured questionnaire consisting of 30 items measured on a five-point Likert scale. The instrument assessed six key dimensions of cyber hygiene, including password management, data protection awareness, safe browsing practices, software update behavior, privacy policy engagement, and participation in cybersecurity training. A total of 77 students participated in the study, with 45 respondents from public universities and 32 from private institutions. Data were analyzed using comparative statistical techniques to evaluate differences between the two groups. The findings reveal that cyber hygiene practices among students are moderately developed but exhibit notable inconsistencies across specific dimensions. Contrary to common assumptions, no statistically significant differences were observed between students from public and private universities across all six dimensions. Both groups demonstrated relatively weaker behaviors in areas such as regular password updating, reviewing privacy policies prior to application downloads, and engagement in institution-led cybersecurity training programs. These results suggest that institutional resources alone do not guarantee better cybersecurity practices among students. The findings contribute to the growing discourse on digital literacy and cybersecurity in developing academic environments and provide a foundation for future empirical and policy-oriented research.