Study of Dark Web Usage Awareness Among IT Students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Awareness of dark web threats and activities is increasingly important for cybersecurity practitioners, yet the extent to which IT-oriented students at northern Nigerian universities understand dark web risks and cybercriminal ecosystems requires investigation. This study assessed dark web usage awareness among Computer Science, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, North West Nigeria. A descriptive survey was conducted among 200 students from the three programmes using stratified random sampling. The instrument measured awareness of dark web technology (Tor network, onion routing), illicit marketplace activities, dark web threat intelligence relevance, ethical and legal access considerations, and defensive security applications. Results showed a mean awareness score of 61.4 out of 100. Technical understanding of Tor routing was adequate in 58.0 percent. Awareness that dark web monitoring is a legitimate threat intelligence practice was held by only 33.5 percent. Confusion between dark web access and illegal activity was present in 41.0 percent (correctly understanding that access alone is not illegal). Cybersecurity programme students scored significantly higher than Computer Science and IT students (p < 0.01). Prior internship experience correlated with higher awareness scores. The study recommends including dark web threat intelligence modules in Cybersecurity and IT curricula, ethical hacking courses with dark web monitoring components, and faculty development workshops in emerging cyber threat landscapes at ABU Zaria. Keywords: dark web awareness, IT students, Ahmadu Bello University, threat intelligence, cybercrime ecosystem