The Nerd Factor: The Potential of S&P Adepts to Serve as a Social Resource in the User’s Quest for More Secure and Privacy-Preserving Behavior

Abstract

There are several ways to inform individuals about secure and privacy-preserving behavior in private social environments. Experts who are versed in security and privacy (S&P), who might be social peers, such as family members or friends, can provide advice or give recommendations. In this paper, we specifically investigate how S&P adepts inform peers in their private social environment about security and privacy. For this, we first conducted thirteen in-depth interviews with S&P adepts, revealing 1) their own S&P behavior and strategies in their personal lives, 2) obstacles in S&P conversations with peers, 3) situations in which S&P adepts intervene in the behavior of others, and 4) the perception of S&P adepts and stereotypes. Based on the interview results, we conducted three co-design workshop sessions with S&P adepts to explore options to better support S&P adepts informing their peers about secure and privacy-preserving behavior