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MOST USERS OF popular messaging applications are leaving themselves exposed to fraud or other hacking because they aren’t using important security options, research has found.
“We wanted to understand how typical users are protecting their privacy,” said Brigham Young University computer science student Elham Vaziripour, who led the study.
The short answer is, they’re generally not.
The study looked at user interaction with Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and Viber.
‘Eavesdrop on conversations’
Although WhatsApp and Viber encrypt messages by default, all three messaging apps also require what’s called an authentication ceremony to ensure true security.
But because most users are unaware of the ceremony and its importance, “it is possible that a malicious third-party or man-in-the middle attacker can eavesdrop on their conversations”.
The authentication ceremony allows users to confirm the identity of their intended conversation partner, and makes sure no other person – even the company providing the messaging app – can intercept messages.
In the first phase of a two-phase experiment, the research team prompted study participants to share a credit card number with another participant.
The participants were warned about potential threats and encouraged to make sure their messages were confidential.
However, only 14% of users in this phase managed to successfully authenticate their recipient. Others opted for ad-hoc security measures like asking their partners for details about a shared experience.
Impact of authentication ceremonies
In the second phase, participants were asked again to share a credit card number, but in this round, researchers emphasized the importance of authentication ceremonies.
With that reminder, 79% of users were able to successfully authenticate the other party.
Despite the drastic change, researchers found another significant hurdle – on average, it took participants 11 minutes to authenticate their partners.
Computer science professor Daniel Zappala said:
Once we told people about the authentication ceremonies, most people could do it, but it was not simple, people were frustrated and it took them too long.
Because most people don’t experience significant security problems, the researchers said, it’s hard to make a case for them investing the time and effort to understand and use security features that apps offer.
“If we can perform the authentication ceremony behind the scenes for users automatically or effortlessly, we can address these problems without necessitating user education,” Vaziripour said.
No disrespect intended Mr Higgins but how about the lack of confidence in the government or the lack of respect from the government to the people.
The problem’s at home needs to be sorted first and then we can tackle outside problems.
How can one have confidence in the E.U. When they keep spouting the mantra of austerity while failing to penalise the banking institutions who were partially responsible for the economic collapse of some of the European countries.
Mr Higgins should look closer to home really very close.
I think Mr. Higgins is the most in touch politician in this country.
Here here Adam…
He can be in touch on €250k a year .
So could anyone.
Maybe out of touch.
Solidarity !!! Ha – what solidarity were we shown by the EU when they forced Irish taxpayers to protect bond holders? The majority of whom are german, French and British bankers!
I wish this fukking chicken hawk would just shut up! I used to respect him even after the Labour Party abdicated their principles but when he was flown home from Rome overnight to sign a bill condemning generations yet to be born with financial serfdom & then recently signed Shatters bill to shut down the phone networks I lost ALL respect for him. Man of the people… 2016 can’t come quick enough!
Ha ha chicken hawk
Here here agree lets us down I that one.
Way to go mr Higgins ….. Your the same man to gave the nod to shut down mobile phone communication system, preventing the citizens from communicating in a crisis…..stop pretending you care…
He does’ nt care – he is worried that there will be social disorder . Hopefully after what the govt has done – there will be .
”We cannot allow an economic crisis caused by speculation and unregulated markets which operated in an ethical vacuum to stall the progress of humanity, ensuring that one billion global citizens remain consigned to lives of relentless hardship and hunger.”
Actally Mickey – the figure for undernourished is three billion – and u sound like u were not the man to sign anything that might make it worse .
”Europe must take its rightful place in leading the global collaboration on poverty eradication and in the fight against hunger. ”
EU could start at home – but they have no intention of doing so – so would u give over the BS Mickey – U had your chance – and you bottled it .
Stay in your palace – like the ” socialist ” u are —— not
I have no confidence in the EU or in the EU but I strongly distrust the government and governance of Ireland.
Our elected representatives, with a few rare and worthy exceptions, have departed from the interests of the people. They may not quite be enemies of the people but they are no friends of the ordinary citizens of this benighted state.
EU has become a Bankocracy.
The EU which is basically dictated by Germany and to a slightly lesser extent France can have politicians make important decisions on other countries and its people who they will not directly have to answer to and don’t have to witness first hand the devastating effects of say austerity etc.
High unemployment rate and the rate of young men committing suicide is a perfect example because the traditional view of the role of the bread winner is distorted and financial problems can lead to stress in relationships often with tragic results.
Why hasn’t one politician demanded a national government suicide committee which incorporates all the good regional organisations like pieta house and other similar groups and throw a lot iq and funds at the project?
There is a lack of confidence in the EU because of the response of the Union to a financial crisis which hadn’t befallen the continent since the Union began. In short, the EU were not equipped to deal with the crisis and didn’t act adequately.
However, I think it gets down to government responsibility. It is far too easy for individual governments like the Irish and Greek ones now do and like the British government has done for years, to blame the EU for every fault that was, in fact, mishandling by the national govt.
First sort out the crises of confidence in Irish political leadership then worry about the EU. That said I’m looking forward to the next referendum on EU plans.
Obama is way cooler than him
At least higgins doesnt have a kill list abd send off drones to murder ” suspects ” and ionnocents — on a weekly basis .
He’s killing you softly….most people are killed by words or the stroke of a pen….. Not always a bomb or bullet..
Why not check this Higgins… Two Fingers…. To the E.U.
Nice.
Solidarity my ass the Germans have established the 4th Reich through the banking industry. Lost the battle but won the war is the German cry
have your say