Farol, Angeli Joy M.; Marcelo, Patricia Jenel P.
Unveiling shadows: A gamified approach to raise awareness and combat phishing tactics - Capstone Project: (Bachelor of Science in Information Technology) - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2025
ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the growing threat of phishing attacks in the Philippines by developing an engaging educational game designed to enhance information retention and engage players in cybersecurity learning. Despite efforts by law enforcement, phishing tactics remain a significant cybersecurity threat in the Philippines, with current preventive measures and awareness campaigns proving insufficient to address evolving cyber threats. The researchers aim to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification in cybersecurity education through the development and testing of “Unveiling Shadows”, a game developed using Unity Game Engine and C# programming language. Using quantitative survey research methodology, data was collected from 100 participants aged 12 and above through an online survey employing a four-point Likert scale to assess the game according to ISO 25010:2023------specifically its functional suitability and interaction capability criteria. Experts from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the Department of Justice----Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) were consulted to ensure that the game content was relevant, accurate, and aligned with real-world phishing tactics. Storyboarding and the structuring of game design concepts were conducted, followed by the collection of quantitative feedback through an online survey via Google Forms to ensure content relevance and alignment with the intended outcomes. The results demonstrated that “Unveiling Shadows” achieved high effectiveness in educating players about phishing tactics, with particularly in password security awareness and understanding the risks of sharing sensitive information online. The findings suggest that cybersecurity educators should consider incorporating gamified learning experiences that simulate real-world scenarios to enhance engagement and knowledge retention. Future research should explore the long-term impact of gamified education on user behavior and its effectiveness among different demographic groups in the Philippine context.
academic writing
T61 F37 2025
Unveiling shadows: A gamified approach to raise awareness and combat phishing tactics - Capstone Project: (Bachelor of Science in Information Technology) - Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, 2025
ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the growing threat of phishing attacks in the Philippines by developing an engaging educational game designed to enhance information retention and engage players in cybersecurity learning. Despite efforts by law enforcement, phishing tactics remain a significant cybersecurity threat in the Philippines, with current preventive measures and awareness campaigns proving insufficient to address evolving cyber threats. The researchers aim to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification in cybersecurity education through the development and testing of “Unveiling Shadows”, a game developed using Unity Game Engine and C# programming language. Using quantitative survey research methodology, data was collected from 100 participants aged 12 and above through an online survey employing a four-point Likert scale to assess the game according to ISO 25010:2023------specifically its functional suitability and interaction capability criteria. Experts from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the Department of Justice----Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC) were consulted to ensure that the game content was relevant, accurate, and aligned with real-world phishing tactics. Storyboarding and the structuring of game design concepts were conducted, followed by the collection of quantitative feedback through an online survey via Google Forms to ensure content relevance and alignment with the intended outcomes. The results demonstrated that “Unveiling Shadows” achieved high effectiveness in educating players about phishing tactics, with particularly in password security awareness and understanding the risks of sharing sensitive information online. The findings suggest that cybersecurity educators should consider incorporating gamified learning experiences that simulate real-world scenarios to enhance engagement and knowledge retention. Future research should explore the long-term impact of gamified education on user behavior and its effectiveness among different demographic groups in the Philippine context.
academic writing
T61 F37 2025