Human Factors in the Privacy and Security of the Internet of Things

The “Internet of things” (IoT) refers to Internet-enabled technologies designed to increase the efficiency of users’ lives by communicating with other objects and elements in a system. The growth in these interconnected devices has been matched with increases in the use and aggregation of data collected by vendors or third parties. The number of hackers attempting to access users’ private information also has grown. Although attempts have been made to increase IoT security, the role users can play in protecting their information has been overlooked. We illustrate the necessity of taking a user-centered approach to privacy and security when designing and developing IoT technologies.