Usability and security in a messaging prototype for mobile phones
Lars Mikkel · 2007
Messaging through the GSM mobile network is not particular secure. This thesis investigates usability issues related to the look’n’feel and the user interface of a secure SMS service on a range of mobile phones. We have carried out a field test of a prototype for secure SMS messaging. A total of 21 users participated in the field test, which did last for 32 days. Additionally we conducted a survey among the participants after the field test was completed. Our findings relates to Whitten and Tygar’s definition of usable security software used in their article Why Johnny can’t encrypt. Our study shows that by making the security as transparent as possible from the users perspective, the users quickly learn how to operate the messaging system efficiently without making many errors.