Guidelines for a job role based approach for Phishing awareness in an academic Institution
- Authors: Mahonga,Sandisiwe
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Identity theft -- South Africa , Computer networks --Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55855 , vital:54394
- Description: Phishing attacks have become a perpetual threat to organisations and internet users in general. Phishing websites and emails impersonating well-known entities are launched frequently, with the intent to trick unsuspecting employees to give out sensitive information such as login details to acquire access to corporate networks. Various solutions have been developed to combat Phishing emails from reaching employees and internet users. However, security experts and Phishing attackers are in a race as Phishing attacks are also refined as solutions are developed. Thus, this raises a critical need for security awareness. Reports and Phishing studies have noted that Phishing attacks targeted towards specific job roles have been on the rise. Even though research studies and industry reports provided by organisations dedicated to information security have taken note of this phenomenon, not much guidance, recommendations or guidelines are provided on how Phishing awareness can be provided for the job roles that are most vulnerable to Phishing attacks. Therefore, the problem identified within this research is that there is a need for guidelines for a job role based approach for Phishing awareness. The primary research objective of this study, therefore, is to develop guidelines to aid towards a job role based approach for Phishing awareness. In order to meet the primary research objective, secondary research objectives were defined and met, namely; To determine the current state of Phishing trends facing organisations in relation to the job role of employees; to determine the level of Phishing awareness employees have; to identify security awareness elements from security awareness standards, best practices and frameworks; to integrate the identified security awareness elements from standards, best practices and frameworks including themes identified from the questionnaire results to formulate the proposed guidelines for a Phishing awareness approach that is relevant for the job role of employees in order to the formulate guidelines. 5 Mixed methods were used to achieve this study’s research objectives. The research methods used included a literature review which was used to define and provide an indepth discussion relating to the domain in which this study is contained, namely: Social engineering, Phishing and information security awareness and training. Furthermore, a survey which took the form of a questionnaire, was used ascertain the level of Phishing awareness amongst employees within an academic institution in South Africa. Argumentation was used to argue towards the proposed guidelines. Finally, an elite interview was conducted, in the form of a questionnaire, to evaluate the proposed guidelines. It is envisaged that the guidelines proposed for a job role Phishing awareness approach could assist organisations to equip employees in job roles that are vulnerable Phishing attacks with adequate awareness and training. , Thesis (MIT) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Mahonga,Sandisiwe
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Identity theft -- South Africa , Computer networks --Security measures
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55855 , vital:54394
- Description: Phishing attacks have become a perpetual threat to organisations and internet users in general. Phishing websites and emails impersonating well-known entities are launched frequently, with the intent to trick unsuspecting employees to give out sensitive information such as login details to acquire access to corporate networks. Various solutions have been developed to combat Phishing emails from reaching employees and internet users. However, security experts and Phishing attackers are in a race as Phishing attacks are also refined as solutions are developed. Thus, this raises a critical need for security awareness. Reports and Phishing studies have noted that Phishing attacks targeted towards specific job roles have been on the rise. Even though research studies and industry reports provided by organisations dedicated to information security have taken note of this phenomenon, not much guidance, recommendations or guidelines are provided on how Phishing awareness can be provided for the job roles that are most vulnerable to Phishing attacks. Therefore, the problem identified within this research is that there is a need for guidelines for a job role based approach for Phishing awareness. The primary research objective of this study, therefore, is to develop guidelines to aid towards a job role based approach for Phishing awareness. In order to meet the primary research objective, secondary research objectives were defined and met, namely; To determine the current state of Phishing trends facing organisations in relation to the job role of employees; to determine the level of Phishing awareness employees have; to identify security awareness elements from security awareness standards, best practices and frameworks; to integrate the identified security awareness elements from standards, best practices and frameworks including themes identified from the questionnaire results to formulate the proposed guidelines for a Phishing awareness approach that is relevant for the job role of employees in order to the formulate guidelines. 5 Mixed methods were used to achieve this study’s research objectives. The research methods used included a literature review which was used to define and provide an indepth discussion relating to the domain in which this study is contained, namely: Social engineering, Phishing and information security awareness and training. Furthermore, a survey which took the form of a questionnaire, was used ascertain the level of Phishing awareness amongst employees within an academic institution in South Africa. Argumentation was used to argue towards the proposed guidelines. Finally, an elite interview was conducted, in the form of a questionnaire, to evaluate the proposed guidelines. It is envisaged that the guidelines proposed for a job role Phishing awareness approach could assist organisations to equip employees in job roles that are vulnerable Phishing attacks with adequate awareness and training. , Thesis (MIT) -- Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, School of Information and Communication Technology, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
Ureaplasma species in the placenta and histopathology associated with preterm birth
- Authors: Sprong, Kaitlin Elizabeth
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54128 , vital:46310
- Description: The Eastern Cape province is known for its high perinatal morbidity and mortality rate. Studies from other countries indicate that Ureaplasma spp. have been associated with clinical chorioamnionitis, spontaneous preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. The prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvumand Mycoplasma hominisin the placenta and its role in preterm birth is unknown in South Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (i) analyze placental histology, maternal and neonatal outcomes and clinical presentation of preterm birth, (ii) detect Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominisin the placenta from cases of preterm birth, (iii) determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasma spp. isolates and investigate mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, (iv) characterize the microbial diversity in the placenta using 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and(v) review pathologies to ascertain whether there is any association between Ureaplasma spp. in the placenta and adverse maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes. iiiABSTRACTBackground The Eastern Cape province is known for its high perinatal morbidity and mortality rate. Studies from other countries indicate that Ureaplasmaspp. have been associated with clinical chorioamnionitis, spontaneous preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. The prevalenceof Ureaplasmaurealyticum,UreaplasmaparvumandMycoplasmahominisin the placenta andits role in preterm birth is unknown in South Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (i) analyze placental histology, maternal and neonatal outcomes and clinical presentation of preterm birth, (ii) detect Ureaplasmaspp. and M. hominisin the placenta from cases of preterm birth, (iii) determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasmaspp. isolates and investigate mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, (iv) characterize the microbial diversity in the placenta using 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and(v) review pathologies to ascertain whether there is any association between Ureaplasmaspp. inthe placenta and adverse maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes. MethodsPlacentas were collected from patients presenting with preterm birth (n=100; 28-34 weeks gestational age) and term birth (n=20; >38 weeks) regardless of the APGAR score. Placentas were submitted for histopathology and used for detection of Ureaplasmaspp. by culture (U9 broth, MycoDuo kits;BioRad) and PCR (DNA was extracted from culture and homogenized placental tissue). Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasmaspp isolates were determined by the SIR Antibiogram kit (BioRad) and microbroth dilution method. Molecular mechanisms of resistance were ascertained by PCR amplification of target genes. Placentas were sent to National Health Laboratory Servicesfor routine histopathology. Next generation sequencing was performed on 16S rRNA amplicons from placental DNA for analysis of microbial diversity. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Sprong, Kaitlin Elizabeth
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Port Elizabeth (South Africa) , Eastern Cape (South Africa) , South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/54128 , vital:46310
- Description: The Eastern Cape province is known for its high perinatal morbidity and mortality rate. Studies from other countries indicate that Ureaplasma spp. have been associated with clinical chorioamnionitis, spontaneous preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. The prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvumand Mycoplasma hominisin the placenta and its role in preterm birth is unknown in South Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (i) analyze placental histology, maternal and neonatal outcomes and clinical presentation of preterm birth, (ii) detect Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominisin the placenta from cases of preterm birth, (iii) determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasma spp. isolates and investigate mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, (iv) characterize the microbial diversity in the placenta using 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and(v) review pathologies to ascertain whether there is any association between Ureaplasma spp. in the placenta and adverse maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes. iiiABSTRACTBackground The Eastern Cape province is known for its high perinatal morbidity and mortality rate. Studies from other countries indicate that Ureaplasmaspp. have been associated with clinical chorioamnionitis, spontaneous preterm labor and preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes. The prevalenceof Ureaplasmaurealyticum,UreaplasmaparvumandMycoplasmahominisin the placenta andits role in preterm birth is unknown in South Africa. Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (i) analyze placental histology, maternal and neonatal outcomes and clinical presentation of preterm birth, (ii) detect Ureaplasmaspp. and M. hominisin the placenta from cases of preterm birth, (iii) determine antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasmaspp. isolates and investigate mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, (iv) characterize the microbial diversity in the placenta using 16S rRNA next generation sequencing and(v) review pathologies to ascertain whether there is any association between Ureaplasmaspp. inthe placenta and adverse maternal, obstetric and neonatal outcomes. MethodsPlacentas were collected from patients presenting with preterm birth (n=100; 28-34 weeks gestational age) and term birth (n=20; >38 weeks) regardless of the APGAR score. Placentas were submitted for histopathology and used for detection of Ureaplasmaspp. by culture (U9 broth, MycoDuo kits;BioRad) and PCR (DNA was extracted from culture and homogenized placental tissue). Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Ureaplasmaspp isolates were determined by the SIR Antibiogram kit (BioRad) and microbroth dilution method. Molecular mechanisms of resistance were ascertained by PCR amplification of target genes. Placentas were sent to National Health Laboratory Servicesfor routine histopathology. Next generation sequencing was performed on 16S rRNA amplicons from placental DNA for analysis of microbial diversity. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Science, Journalsim and Media Studies, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
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