AI-Enhanced OSINT and Phishing Detection Study

Welcome to my dissertation study.

My name is Jack Stavrakas, and I am a doctoral candidate in the Integrated Information Technology Department at the University of South Carolina. I am conducting a research study as part of my dissertation and would like to invite you to participate.

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether cybersecurity tools enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) and open-source intelligence (OSINT) can help individuals more accurately identify phishing emails.

To participate, you must be at least 18 years old, speak English fluently, and regularly use email. The study is conducted entirely online and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete, but may take up to 15 minutes. You will be asked to complete a brief demographic questionnaire to determine your eligibility and evaluate a set of simulated emails using a secure web-based platform.

Participation is entirely voluntary and anonymous. Your responses will not be linked to your identity, and no personally identifiable information will be collected. You will not receive compensation for participating, and you are free to withdraw at any time without penalty.

If you have questions, you may contact me at stavrakj@email.sc.edu or 843-337-4283, or my faculty advisor, Dr. Neset Hikmet, at nhikmet@cec.sc.edu or 803-777-5559. If you have concerns about your rights as a research subject, please contact the University of South Carolina’s Office of Research Compliance at (803) 777-6670.