Authors: Praniti Gijare, Sneha Kunnummal, Suhani Heblikar, Harsh Sakhare, Rushabh Parab, Reshma Sonar
Abstract: Phishing attacks targeting college students have surged by 224% in the education sector during 2024, In recent months, attacks aimed at stealing login details have exploded in volume, with credential-related phishing growing at an unprecedented rate and now representing the fastest-rising threat faced by campus communities. Methods that rely mainly on lectures or passive training have not made a substantial impact on how well students identify or avoid phishing threats, leaving many learners at risk despite completing such programs in reducing phishing susceptibility, with studies revealing minimal behavioural change despite widespread implementation. This research investigates whether interactive coding simulations using Python-based phishing detection exercises can significantly improve college students' ability to identify and avoid phishing attacks compared to conventional lecture-based training. A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test design employed 90 undergraduate students across three groups: interactive simulation training (n=30), traditional lecture-based training (n=30), and control group (n=30). The interactive group developed basic Python scripts to detect phishing characteristics including suspicious URLs, sender anomalies, and social engineering tactics. Results indicate the interactive simulation group demonstrated Students who took part in coding-based, hands-on exercises were able to spot phishing attempts nearly twice as well as those who received traditional classes, showing a remarkable 42% boost in detection skills over standard methods 18% in the lecture-based group and The students who didn’t receive any security Students who didn’t participate in any cybersecurity activities barely improved at all, showing almost no change in their ability to recognize phishing scams; this highlights that without fresh skills, people generally stick to old habits even when digital threats are increasing 5% improvement, which suggests that without any active intervention, most people simply continue their usual habits even if they face ongoing cyber risks. The findings suggest hands-on coding simulations provide superior learning outcomes through experiential engagement, addressing a There is a clear need for practical, engaging Cybersecurity education still relies heavily on traditional classroom approaches, most of these traditional methods don’t really equip students for the types of scams and online risks they will actually encounter in their daily lives, leaving important gaps in both confidence and readiness the constantly changing landscape of digital threats fail to prepare students for real-world online risks they often lack the tools and confidence, most students aren’t equipped with the practical skills they need to spot and steer clear of today’s online dangers, which means entire groups remain vulnerable unless more effective and engaging education is provided.
Published by: vikaspatanker
