Global Security, Safety and Sustainability & e-Democracy. 7th International and 4th e-Democracy, Joint Conferences, ICGS3/e-Democracy 2011, Thessaloniki, Greece, August 24-26, 2011, Revised Selected Papers

Research Article

Cryptographic Dysfunctionality-A Survey on User Perceptions of Digital Certificates

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  • @INPROCEEDINGS{10.1007/978-3-642-33448-1_12,
        author={Dimitrios Zissis and Dimitrios Lekkas and Panayiotis Koutsabasis},
        title={Cryptographic Dysfunctionality-A Survey on User Perceptions of Digital Certificates},
        proceedings={Global Security, Safety and Sustainability \& e-Democracy. 7th International and 4th e-Democracy, Joint Conferences, ICGS3/e-Democracy 2011, Thessaloniki, Greece, August 24-26, 2011, Revised Selected Papers},
        proceedings_a={ICGS3 \& E-DEMOCRACY},
        year={2012},
        month={10},
        keywords={Public Key Infrastructure Usability Security Digital Certificates},
        doi={10.1007/978-3-642-33448-1_12}
    }
    
  • Dimitrios Zissis
    Dimitrios Lekkas
    Panayiotis Koutsabasis
    Year: 2012
    Cryptographic Dysfunctionality-A Survey on User Perceptions of Digital Certificates
    ICGS3 & E-DEMOCRACY
    Springer
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33448-1_12
Dimitrios Zissis1,*, Dimitrios Lekkas1,*, Panayiotis Koutsabasis1,*
  • 1: University of the Aegean
*Contact email: Dzissis@aegean.gr, Dlek@aegean.gr, Kgp@aegean.gr

Abstract

In this paper we identify and define cryptographic dysfunctionality and within this context we perform a study to evaluate user perceptions of public key cryptography concepts. The study makes use of user testing, questionnaires and wrap-up interviews with 121 young, but experienced Internet users during their interactions with selected secure Internet locations. The results show that the vast majority of users are not familiar with fundamental concepts of cryptography, and that they are not capable of efficiently managing digital certificates. This case study serves as first evidence supporting our hypothesis that user interface design is deteriorating cryptographic solutions effectiveness due to usability issues.