Improving security and privacy insights for smart home users
Publication Date
July 29, 2026
Creator
Ahmad Alghamdi, Samiah
Abstract
In recent years, the number and range of Internet-connected devices have increased rapidly, mainly due to their adoption within the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart home contexts. As a result, users are increasingly required to manage the security and privacy of a growing variety of devices.
This study explores the challenges users face in understanding the security and privacy features available on their devices, as well as the additional difficulties they encounter when using these features effectively. The first part of the work assesses user-facing materials (e.g., instruction manuals and online guidance) for a wide range of smart home devices to determine the extent to which security and privacy aspects are highlighted and explained. This analysis provides an overview of how information is communicated to end users and identifies gaps between the technical implementation of privacy features and the level of support offered through documentation.
Having established that the situation is inconsistent, the study then examines the user experience by evaluating how easily several security- and privacy-related tasks can be performed across three popular smart speaker platforms. The findings reveal further inconsistencies and suggest that users face considerable challenges in keeping track of the security settings and status of multiple devices within a smart home. These results emphasise that even technically advanced devices often fail to prioritise usability in the design of privacy and security functions, leaving users dependent on trial and error to achieve desired configurations.
In response to these challenges, a harmonised approach was developed through the design and evaluation of a unified dashboard that enables users to view and manage security and privacy settings across all their smart home devices. The design process focused on simplifying complex technical concepts into intuitive visual elements that enhance user understanding and control. A user-centred design methodology was followed throughout the process, incorporating iterative feedback and evaluation to refine both layout and functionality.
The resulting prototype was compared with three leading commercial platforms, and the evaluation demonstrated that the proposed solution significantly improves usability, awareness, and overall user confidence in managing smart home privacy and security. Beyond its practical implications, the work also contributes conceptually by demonstrating that consistency and transparency are essential for fostering user trust in connected environments, thereby helping to reduce the security and privacy challenges commonly experienced in smart homes. The research, therefore, contributes to the development of user-centred Dashboard that make security and privacy management more consistent, transparent, and accessible across the smart home ecosystem.
Item Type
ethesis
Thesis Type
PhD
Supervisors
Furnell, Steven
Bagley, Steven
Subjects (LC)
Associated Schools / Departments
UoN Repository URI
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Samiah Alghamdi-20379893.pdf
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59.02 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
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