Smartphone users: Understanding how security mechanisms are perceived and new persuasive methods

Abstract

Protecting smartphones against security threats is a multidimensional problem involving human and technological factors. This study investigates how smartphone users’ security- and privacy-related decisions are influenced by their attitudes, perceptions, and understanding of various security threats. In this work, we seek to provide quantified insights into smartphone users’ behavior toward multiple key security features including locking mechanisms, application repositories, mobile instant messaging, and smartphone location services. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reveals often unforeseen correlations and dependencies between various privacy- and security-related behaviors. Our work also provides evidence that making correct security decisions might not necessarily correlate with individuals’ awareness of the consequences of security threats. By comparing participants’ behavior and their motives for adopting or ignoring certain security practices, we suggest implementing additional persuasive approaches that focus on addressing social and technological aspects of the problem. On the basis of our findings and the results presented in the literature, we identify the factors that might influence smartphone users’ security behaviors. We then use our understanding of what might drive and influence significant behavioral changes to propose several platform design modifications that we believe could improve the security levels of smartphones.

Does This App Respect My Privacy? Design and Evaluation of Information Materials Supporting Privacy-Related Decisions of Smartphone Users

“…The literature review resulted in nine publications [1], [2], [5], [12], [17], [18], [21], [25], [27]. The misconceptions found in these publications can be summarized as follows:…”

Personal Archive Management with Digital Curation Concept on Students’ Smartphones

“…Jangka pendek dalam artian adalah foto-foto yang disimpan adalah foto yang menyangkut mengenai pekerjaan dan foto yang dirasa cocok untuk dimuat dalam profil media sosial.. Sedangkan dua informan lain mengatakan lebih memprioritaskan untuk mengelola foto untuk jangka panjang seperti foto keluarga dan foto momen-momen tertentu. Penelitian (Alsaleh, Alomar & Alarifi, 2017) menunjukkan delapan puluh tujuh persen pengguna smartphone menyimpan foto pribadi di galeri default dan aplikasi kamera smartphone. Menariknya satu informan mengakui mampu mengelola foto secara berkala baik untuk jangka pendek dan jangka panjang.…”

“…Menariknya adalah ketiga informan lain merasa aman-aman saja ketika tidak menginstall aplikasi anti virus tertentu di smartphone masing-masing. Pengguna smartphone percaya bahwa data yang disimpan tidak akan bernilai bagi lawan dan, oleh karena itu, tidak perlu melakukan tindakan perlindungan apa pun, seperti mencadangkan data ponsel cerdas atau memasang antivirus (Alsaleh, Alomar & Alarifi, 2017). Padahal ponsel menjadi sasaran virus karena penggunaannya yang luas, perangkat seluler jauh lebih terhubung dengan dunia luar daripada PC Shih, et al (2008).…”

Coping with Accessibility Challenges for Security - A User Study with Blind Smartphone Users

“…Chen et al [31] also discuss Internet security practices of users in the context of users in a developing nation. Recent work by Alsaleh et al [32] discusses smartphone security practices of users from the dimensions of behavioral change and provide persuasive approaches for addressing unsafe practices.…”