Cybersecurity Practices and Facebook Hacking Exposure among Residents of Barangay Ipil, Ormoc City

Abstract

This study determined the cybersecurity practices and exposure to Facebook hacking incidents among residents of Barangay Ipil, Ormoc City. Specifically, it described the respondents’ profile in terms of age, sex, civil status, and educational attainment; assessed their self-reported cybersecurity practices in terms of account security practices, phishing and social engineering awareness, user awareness, online behavior, and privacy settings management; determined their self-reported level of exposure to Facebook hacking incidents; and examined the relationship between cybersecurity practices and Facebook hacking exposure. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed, with a structured questionnaire administered to 384 respondents selected from a population of 9,479 residents. Data on cybersecurity practices and Facebook hacking exposure were based on the respondents’ self-reported responses and were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s r. Findings showed that the respondents were predominantly aged 21 years and above, single, and had attained at least college-level education. Overall, self-reported cybersecurity practices were rated high, with very high ratings for account security practices, phishing and social engineering awareness, user awareness, and privacy settings management, while online behavior was rated low. Self-reported exposure to Facebook hacking incidents was also rated high, particularly in terms of phishing attempts, suspicious login activities, and awareness of hacking incidents. A statistically significant moderate positive relationship was found between cybersecurity practices and Facebook hacking exposure (r = .54, p < .001), indicating that respondents who reported higher levels of cybersecurity practices also tended to report higher levels of exposure. This association should not be interpreted as evidence of causation or temporal direction. The study concludes that despite generally high self-reported cybersecurity practices, self-reported exposure to Facebook hacking incidents remains evident, highlighting the need for sustained cybersecurity education and stronger, more consistent safe online behaviors, particularly in relation to phishing prevention, account security, and privacy management.