Understanding Perceptions: User Responses to Browser Warning Messages

Abstract

With changes in interfaces resulting from the proliferation of IOT devices and new technologies such as self-driving vehicles, user reactions to browser messages may also change. This paper reviews the literature on user reactions to browser warnings, with emphasis on screen size and form factors. The literature indicates that browser warning message design, habituation, awareness of risk and screen size are aspects that effect user perception of risk. This article surveys the findings while noting challenges and proposed solutions to support effective provision of and user compliance with browser security warnings as well as important user study design considerations for future work – in particular, future work on the effect of screen size on user perception of browser warnings.