The impact of students’ cybersecurity vulnerability behavior on e-learning obstaclesTaha, Ibrahim Mohamed (Avtor) Ali, Rajaa Hussein Abd (Avtor) Abbas, Ali Abdulhassan (Avtor) cybersecurity vulnerability behaviore-learning obstacleshigher educationPLS-SEMstudent motivationlearning behaviourBackground/purpose: This study examines the relationship between students’ cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles. With the rapid growth of online education, ensuring the security and privacy of digital platforms has become crucial. In this background, the current study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to understand the relationship between these two variables in the background of higher educational institutions in Iraq. Methods: For this study, the researchers collected data during 2023 from students aged between 19 and 25 enrolled in the University of Karbala, Iraq, using a semi-structured research questionnaire, who were selected through a random sampling method. The questionnaire comprised questions pertaining to the dimensions of both the dependent and the independent variable. A total of 350 valid responses were considered for the analysis in which PLS-SEM was conducted. Results: The outcomes revealed that the professional and human obstacles have a high association with cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. The study also found that the overall obstacles have a significant effect on the cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. All hypotheses were verified and the outcomes confirm that there is an effective relationship between cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles Conclusion: Based on the study outcomes, the authors proposed a few recommendations for all the stakeholders of the e-learning process, such as ducational institutions, governments, faculty members, students, and their parents. Though the current study has been confined to a single university in Iraq, future researchers can focus on expanding the study to other higher educational institutions so that a nationwide policy-level initiative can be brought based on the research evidence.20252025-08-06 12:49:26Neznano94167UDK: 378:004COBISS_ID: 243833091DOI: 10.2478/orga-2025-0006ISSN pri članku: 1318-5454sl