Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps

The rise in internet-based services has raised risks of data exposure. The manipulation and exploitation of sensitive data significantly impact individuals’ resilience—the ability to protect and prepare against cyber incidents. Emerging technologies seek to enhance cybersecurity resilience by develo...

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Main Authors: Irfan Riasat, Mahmood Shah, M. Sinan Gonul
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Computers
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/4/129
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author Irfan Riasat
Mahmood Shah
M. Sinan Gonul
author_facet Irfan Riasat
Mahmood Shah
M. Sinan Gonul
author_sort Irfan Riasat
collection DOAJ
description The rise in internet-based services has raised risks of data exposure. The manipulation and exploitation of sensitive data significantly impact individuals’ resilience—the ability to protect and prepare against cyber incidents. Emerging technologies seek to enhance cybersecurity resilience by developing various security tools. This study aims to explore the adoption of security tools using a qualitative research approach. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with users of mobile banking apps from Pakistan. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed that biometric authentication and SMS alerts are commonly used. Limited use of multifactor authentication has been observed, mainly due to a lack of awareness or implementation knowledge. Passwords are still regarded as a trusted and secure mechanism. The findings indicate that the adoption of security tools is based on perceptions of usefulness, perceived trust, and perceived ease of use, while knowledge and awareness play a moderating role. This study also proposes a framework by extending TAM to include multiple security tools and introducing knowledge and awareness as a moderator influencing users’ perceptions. The findings inform practical implications for financial institutions, application developers, and policymakers to ensure standardized policy to include security tools in online financial platforms, thereby enhancing overall cybersecurity resilience.
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spelling doaj-art-3394245d9e864911af409690fc52d62a2025-08-20T02:17:14ZengMDPI AGComputers2073-431X2025-04-0114412910.3390/computers14040129Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking AppsIrfan Riasat0Mahmood Shah1M. Sinan Gonul2Newcastle Business School, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UKNewcastle Business School, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UKNewcastle Business School, University of Northumbria at Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UKThe rise in internet-based services has raised risks of data exposure. The manipulation and exploitation of sensitive data significantly impact individuals’ resilience—the ability to protect and prepare against cyber incidents. Emerging technologies seek to enhance cybersecurity resilience by developing various security tools. This study aims to explore the adoption of security tools using a qualitative research approach. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with users of mobile banking apps from Pakistan. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which revealed that biometric authentication and SMS alerts are commonly used. Limited use of multifactor authentication has been observed, mainly due to a lack of awareness or implementation knowledge. Passwords are still regarded as a trusted and secure mechanism. The findings indicate that the adoption of security tools is based on perceptions of usefulness, perceived trust, and perceived ease of use, while knowledge and awareness play a moderating role. This study also proposes a framework by extending TAM to include multiple security tools and introducing knowledge and awareness as a moderator influencing users’ perceptions. The findings inform practical implications for financial institutions, application developers, and policymakers to ensure standardized policy to include security tools in online financial platforms, thereby enhancing overall cybersecurity resilience.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/4/129emerging technologysecurity toolsbiometric authenticationSMS alertpasswordmultifactor authentication
spellingShingle Irfan Riasat
Mahmood Shah
M. Sinan Gonul
Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
Computers
emerging technology
security tools
biometric authentication
SMS alert
password
multifactor authentication
title Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
title_full Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
title_fullStr Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
title_full_unstemmed Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
title_short Strengthening Cybersecurity Resilience: An Investigation of Customers’ Adoption of Emerging Security Tools in Mobile Banking Apps
title_sort strengthening cybersecurity resilience an investigation of customers adoption of emerging security tools in mobile banking apps
topic emerging technology
security tools
biometric authentication
SMS alert
password
multifactor authentication
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-431X/14/4/129
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