Influencing IoT Device User Privacy Behaviors: An Empirical Study

The prevalence of Internet of Things (IoT) devices is increasing in both volume and variety (Fagan, Megas, Scarfone, & Smith, 2019). Therefore, ensuring users take appropriate measures to protect their privacy is important to guarantee their safety expectations are met. Unfortunately, device users are generally unaware of how devices work and therefore how to properly set up their device’s privacy features (Olmstead & Smith, 2017). The present study evaluated two interventions designed to address these needs. First, in an attempt to increase access and understanding of the terms and conditions by users, a Terms and Conditions Guru was designed that presented important information throughout the IoT device set up. Second, in an attempt to encourage users to adjust their settings in an appropriate manner, user settings profiles were created. This paper presents the methods, results, and recommendations for IoT interface design.