Assessment of Cybersecurity Awareness Among Telecommunications Users in Enugu State

The proliferation of smartphone usage and mobile internet access in Nigeria has increased exposure to cyber threats including phishing, SIM swap fraud, and malware, making cybersecurity awareness among telecommunications users a matter of public interest. This study assesses the level of cybersecurity awareness among telecommunications users in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, and identifies the most prevalent vulnerabilities in user behavior. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed using structured questionnaires administered to 350 participants drawn from urban and semi-urban communities in Enugu, Awgu, and Udi local government areas. The questionnaire assessed awareness of common threats, password management behavior, response to suspicious messages, and understanding of data privacy settings on mobile devices. Results indicate that awareness of SIM swap fraud was low at 27%, while only 31% of respondents reported using strong unique passwords for mobile banking applications. Click-through rates on simulated phishing messages embedded in the questionnaire were 44%, indicating significant vulnerability. Younger respondents between 18 and 25 years demonstrated marginally higher threat awareness but poorer password hygiene than older age groups. Respondents with tertiary education recorded significantly higher awareness scores across all threat categories. The study recommends public cybersecurity sensitization campaigns delivered through SMS and radio, mandatory security feature training by mobile network operators during SIM registration, and integration of cybersecurity literacy into secondary and tertiary curricula in Enugu State. Keywords: cybersecurity awareness, mobile users, phishing, SIM swap, Enugu State.