END-POINT SECURITY PRACTICES AND BLOCKCHAIN INTEGRATION AS PREDICTORS OF CYBERCRIME MITIGATION IN SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA.

Abstract

   Recent observation has shown increased rate of cybercrime incidence in South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria in spite of the pervasive rate of digital information technologies and services. Based on this observation, this study investigated end-point security practices and blockchain integration as the prediction of cybercrime mitigation in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. The population of the study was 42,859,300. The sample size of 1,200 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane’s (1967) formula. A stratified random sampling technique was adopted by dividing the population into relevant groups and randomly selecting respondents from each stratum to ensure adequate representation of the various categories within the study population. Data was collected with a structured questionnaire designed and developed for the purpose, christened, Cyber Security Technologies and Cybercrime Questionnaire (CSTCQ). Reliability of the instrument was tested with Cronbach Alpha (values between 0.77 to 0.89). Questionnaires were administered with the help of 3 research assistants who used purposive sampling technique to select respondents, who had adequate knowledge about issues pertaining to cybersecurity. Information from the questionnaires were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) with simple linear regression analysis. The results of the analysis showed that end-point security practices is a statistically strong prediction of cybercrime mitigation in South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Blockchain integration was also a statistically significant, but weaker prediction of cybercrime mitigation. The study recommended stronger enforceability of end-point security practices and better awareness; the incorporation of blockchain gradually into the sector with proper infrastructure and policy is emphasized.