Exploring User Understanding of Wireless Connectivity and Security on Smartphones

Wireless connectivity is a key feature of smartphones, enabling users to connect to the Internet and communicate directly with other local devices and accessories. However, such channels can also introduce security and privacy risks if not configured and used correctly, which can in turn depend upon the perceptions, capabilities and understanding of the users. This study examines the issue from the potential of iPhone users, a popular platform that is often perceived as being easy to use and offering better default protection. Findings from interview-based data collection involving 16 smartphone users. These revealed that while all users made regular and significant use of their wireless connectivity, there were varying levels of awareness in relation to security and related usage. The findings also revealed notable variations in users’ abilities to navigate and interpret related interfaces, with the potential consequence that related features are not located or are misinterpreted.