Keywords

security warnings, habituation, generalization, fMRI, mouse cursor tracking, NeuroIS

Abstract

This paper examines how habituation to frequent software notifications may carry over to infrequent security warnings. This general process— known as stimulus generalization or simply generalization—is a well-established phenomenon in neurobiology that has clear implications for information security. Because software user interface guidelines call for visual consistency, software notifications and security warnings have a similar look and feel. Consequently, through frequent exposure to notifications, people may become habituated to security warnings they have never seen before. The objective of this paper to propose an fMRI experimental design to measure the extent to which this occurs. We also propose testing security warning designs that are resistant to generalization of habituation effects.

Original Publication Citation

Kirwan, B., Anderson, B., Eargle, D. Jenkins, J., Vance, A., “Using fMRI to Measure Stimulus Generalization of Software Notification to Security Warnings,” presented at the NeuroIS Retreat, Vienna, Austria, published in Information Systems and Neuroscience, 93-99. 2019.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2019

Publisher

Information Systems and Neuroscience

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Information Systems Management

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

Download

Share

COinS