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Purpose

Phishing continues to pose a significant cyber threat, exploiting users’ inadequate strategies in assessing the legitimacy of online messages and links. A noticeable gap exists in the literature concerning URL fact-checking behavior. Hence, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing user behavior in URL fact-checking to mitigate phishing attacks.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data was collected from 500 internet users in Malaysia. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results show that affect, attitude and anti-phishing awareness significantly predict users’ URL fact-checking intention. Intention, facilitating conditions and habit positively impact behavior. The perceived usefulness of the URL checker positively affects beliefs and evaluation, which then influence attitude.

Originality/value

This study contributes to cybersecurity by providing a comprehensive understanding of factors contributing to URL fact-checking behavior, which can guide the development of practical anti-phishing strategies and educational initiatives.

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