Reducing risk to security and privacy in the selection of trigger-action rules: Implicit vs. explicit priming for domestic smart devices

• Novel research focusing on how security and privacy can be maximised when users enable trigger-action rules for connected smart home devices. Two experiments explored whether priming / contexts, as well biographical or attitudinal characteristics, influence rule choice associated safety. Less risky adopted because of priming, but strongest effects explicit. Rule shaped by age, perceived benefits technology, pre-existing trusting beliefs. Results have implications the design platforms tailoring safety messaging. Smart device usage is increasing, diversity range Additionally, it becoming increasingly common to interconnect devices (e.g., via rules) which, while bringing benefits, bring unforeseen risks. Developing strategies protect understanding what characteristics contribute these risks a critical step ensuring empowered, safe, interconnected usage. Using narrative descriptions domestic devices, two prevailing security/privacy contexts—priming conditions—in which 20 (developed Delphi Study) were presented influenced adoption favoring either privacy. Both contrasted three conditions: no prime, prime. Experiment 1 (n = 254) used explicit giving direct instruction maximize outcome 2 325) implicit with an apparently unrelated problem-solving puzzle. Across both experiments, promoted safer adoption, markedly so Explicit produced asymmetry however: improved scores unchanged primes worsening scores. dimensions user attitudes riskier choice: technology beliefs in online companies. Our novel findings reveal that shape safe use settings trust should considered designing