Nudging towards security: Developing an application for wireless network selection for android phones

People make security choices on a daily basis without fully considering the security implications of those choices. In this paper we present a prototype application which promotes the choice of secure wireless network options, specifically when users are unfamiliar with the wireless networks available. The app was developed based on behavioural theory, choice architecture and good practices informed by HCI design. The app includes several options to ‘nudge’ users towards selecting more secure public wireless networks. This paper outlines the development and the results of an evaluation of some of the potential app nudges (specifically, presentation order and colour coding). Colour coding was found to be a powerful influence, less so with the order in which we listed the Wi-Fi networks, although the colour x order combination was most effective. The paper contributes to the body of evidence on the effectiveness of cyber-security interventions to empower the user to make more informed security decisions.