University of Twente Student Theses
The invisible cyber intruder : An experimental study into the effects of type of smart home device, type of security attack on crisis responsibility, trust towards the organisation, trust towards the device, perceived threat, and intention to use.
Heuvel, C.M. van den (2023) The invisible cyber intruder : An experimental study into the effects of type of smart home device, type of security attack on crisis responsibility, trust towards the organisation, trust towards the device, perceived threat, and intention to use.
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| Abstract: | AIM The popularity of smart home devices has increased, though these internet-connected devices are a vulnerable target for security attacks. However, security attacks are a rather new phenomenon and have therefore not been taken into account in crisis communication research before. This study aims to explore the impact of cyberattacks on consumers' attitudes towards smart home devices and develop crisis communication strategies specifically tailored to this new and vulnerable phenomenon. By incorporating Coombs’ Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT), the research seeks to provide valuable insights for effective post-crisis communication in the context of smart home devices. METHOD An online experiment, using a scenario based 2 (type of smart home device: high intrusiveness vs. low intrusiveness) x 2 (type of security attack: passive vs. active) between-subjects experimental design was executed among 215 participants. FINDINGS The results of this study revealed that passive security attacks had a greater influence on trust towards the organisation and the device compared to active attacks. However, the type of security attack did not significantly affect perceived threat or crisis responsibility, except for masquerade attacks, which resulted in higher crisis responsibility attributed to the smart home device manufacturer. Additionally, the level of intrusiveness of smart home devices did not significantly affect trust, perceived threat, or crisis responsibility. Interestingly, the study revealed that trust towards the device found to be the only significant predictors of intention to use smart home devices. In contrast, trust towards the organisation, crisis responsibility and perceived threat, did not significantly affect the intention to use smart home devices. CONCLUSION This study highlights the crucial role of trust in the context of smart home technologies. Trust in the device was found to be the only significant predictor, which underscores the importance of building and maintaining trust in the smart home devices themselves, with reliable performance and robust security measures being prioritised by manufacturers. The study also revealed different effects of different types of security attacks on consumer perceptions, highlighting the need for effective crisis communication strategies. The study provides valuable insights for effective post-crisis communication and contributes to understanding and strengthening consumer trust in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 05 communication studies |
| Programme: | Communication Studies MSc (60713) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/96463 |
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