Awareness and Preparedness Against AI-Driven Phishing Attacks: A Quantitative Study Among University Students

Artificial intelligence has enabled a new generation of phishing attacks that are personalized, scalable, and harder to detect. This study explores university students’ awareness and preparedness against AI-driven phishing techniques, such as deepfakes and synthetic emails. Based on survey data from 300 students, results reveal moderate awareness but insufficient readiness, particularly among lower-year students. Notably, formal cybersecurity training showed no significant impact on preparedness. The study emphasizes the need for practical, simulation-based interventions integrated into academic curricula. These findings offer critical insights for enhancing cybersecurity education and strengthening institutional defenses against evolving AI-powered social engineering threats in academic environments.