Close

Presentation

Where Do Users Look When Deciding If a Text Message is Safe or Malicious?
DescriptionPhishing, particularly through SMS or "SMiShing," is increasingly exploiting mobile users, with losses rising dramatically—from $86 million in 2020 to $330 million in 2023. Research on SMiShing is notably limited, focusing predominantly on technological solutions, while the exploration of human behavioral responses remains understudied compared to email phishing. Our study aims to fill this gap by examining how users interact with and perceive the legitimacy of both safe and malicious text messages. We specifically investigate which components of a message users scrutinize, such as sender information and the presence of typographical errors. This approach builds on findings from email phishing research, which show that visual cues significantly influence trustworthiness perceptions. By analyzing eye movement and attention patterns, we seek to understand if and how the smaller screen sizes and content limitations of mobile devices affect vulnerability to SMiShing, potentially offering insights into more effective user-focused safeguards against these scams.
Event Type
Lecture
TimeTuesday, September 10th10:15am - 10:30am MST
LocationFLW Salon I
Tracks
Cybersecurity