Exploring Parents’ Security and Privacy Concerns and Practices

Abstract

Abstract-Children today grow up within an environment with many digital technologies. Yet, the use of technology also brings with it the need to protect one's information and devices, and for parents, the need to protect their children as well. Previous research on children has mainly focused on addressing technology use among older teens, who are already primary users of many of the same applications as adults. Yet, little is known about the use of technology by younger children, and parents' perspectives regarding the privacy and security implications of that use. Through 20 semi-structured interviews conducted with parents of children aged 5-12, this study seeks to provide a clearer understanding of security and privacy related concerns, behaviors, and practices of parents and their children. We aim to expand the knowledge related to technology use in the family, and opportunities to improve how we protect and educate children in security and privacy.

A Survey of User Perspectives on Security and Privacy in a Home Networking Environment

“…Parental privacy concern was discussed in three papers. Reflecting on parent's technology usage, control and concerns, Alqhatani and Lipford [15] (interview, 𝑛 = 20) stated that parents did discuss children's privacy and security concerns regarding their online use and controls but did not expand on these to include smart devices. In contrast, Prasad et al [149] (interview, 𝑛 = 20) considered parental privacy concerns towards service providers and manufacturers and how they affect their children.…”

Threats to Journalists from the Consumer Internet of Things

“…detailed daily routines) to be surmised and exploited [36,37]. In addition to the potential for behavioural manipulation via IoT "nudging" [77], predictive analysis can also be used to infer more sensitive data by devices or attackers with analytical capabilities, such as one's health status being recognised based on requests made to voice assistants [78], or wearable devices [14,37,79]. The IoTsourced data allows extrapolation to substantiate both true and false scenarios, which could also call into question journalists' professional integrity.…”

“…There is the possibility of devices with microphones picking up the sounds of nearby typing patterns, to allow reconstruction of messages sent, which could compromise confidential communications between journalists and their sources and editors, even when sent through secure channels [81]. Access to the huge amounts of personal information gathered by IoT devices, either historic data (such as location information from a fitness tracker [79], or live data such as hacking the camera of a smart television, which may record both video and audio [82]) can facilitate the doxxing and stalking of journalists. In addition to the physical security, health and safety consequences of doxxing and stalking, they could also result in financial and reputational damages that harm journalist's credibility [58].…”

“…Predictive analysis of location data to facilitate physical attacks. Tracking of a journalist or source by accessing the real-time geographic data gathered by and streamed from their car, fitness tracker or smart watch could also allow an adversary to infer previous routes and locations, or predict future ones [79,86,87].…”

User Identification from Time Series of Fitness Data

“…One of the main concerns regarding the disclosure of these data is related to the possibility of building a so-called "quantified self" that emerges from continuous collection of PFI by sensors constantly monitoring the user. Moreover, the entities that might gain access to users' PFI are not limited to the manufacturer of the smartband: several fitness apps allow to share PFI data with contacts or to post them on social networks, and users are inclined to do so, as this provides additional motivation to stay active and exercise (Alqhatani and Lipford, 2019).…”