How the email type of a spear phishing email influences spear phishing vulnerability: The moderating impact of motor impulsivity
Keywords
Loading...
Authors
Issue Date
2025-07-01
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
The capabilities of generative AI (Gen-AI) are evolving rapidly in the current digital age, and using Gen-AI in the creation process of spear phishing emails reveals new cybersecurity threats. This thesis investigated how the type of spear phishing email, whether human- or Gen-AI made, influences an individual’s vulnerability to these emails. Additionally, the impact of motor impulsivity, which is described as acting quick and without thorough evaluation, between email type and individual spear phishing vulnerability was examined. A between-subject experiment was conducted including Dutch participants (N=172), including respondents exposed to either human- or Gen-AI made spear phishing emails alongside genuine emails. Individual spear phishing vulnerability was measured using spear phishing detection accuracy, based on the email responses of the respondents. The results of the regression analysis (PROCESS) showed that exposure to Gen-AI made phishing emails significantly reduces detection accuracy, indicating increased vulnerability compared to exposure to human made phishing emails. Unexpectedly, motor impulsivity did not significantly moderate the relationship between email type and individual spear phishing vulnerability. Additionally, older individuals showed higher detection accuracy, indicating lower vulnerability. These findings highlight the threats of Gen-AI in the context of spear phishing. This thesis offers practical implications for mitigating these threats.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen