Are We Aware? An Empirical Study on the Privacy and Security Awareness of Smartphone Sensors

Smartphones are equipped with a wide variety of sensors, which can pose significant security and privacy risks if not properly protected. To assess the privacy and security risks of smartphone sensors, we first systematically reviewed 55 research papers. Driven by the findings of the systematic review, we carried out a follow-up questionnaire-based survey on 23 human end-users. The results reflect that the participants have a varying level of familiarity with smartphone sensors, and there is a noticeable dearth of awareness about the potential threats and preventive measures associated with these sensors. The findings from this study will inform the development of effective solutions for addressing security and privacy in mobile devices and beyond.