The Problem

People connect to public Wi-Fi without VPN's.

Countless individuals rely on public Wi-Fi networks for quick, convenient internet access. Far too many users connect to these networks without VPN's, unknowingly putting their personal information at risk and leaving themselves exposed to potential cyber threats.

In today's increasingly digital world, the issue of cybersecurity has become paramount for users across the globe. This semester, our project aims to address the widespread lack of awareness and understanding of the importance of practicing cyber hygiene among the general public. Cyber hygiene refers to the set of practices and habits for maintaining security. The problem we sought to solve revolves around the false sense of security many people experience when using their computers, which often results from common misconceptions and an "anyone but me" mindset.

A significant number of people believe that their computers are inherently protected from cyberattacks, or that they are immune to such threats due to using a Mac instead of a PC. Additionally, users often underestimate their risk of becoming a target for cybercriminals, leading to a mindset that these issues will only affect others, not themselves. This lack of awareness extends to uninformed use of public Wi-Fi networks, where users frequently connect without considering the potential risks to their personal information. Many of these individuals do not use virtual private networks (VPNs) when accessing the internet, leaving them more vulnerable to cyber threats.

The consequences of this lack of awareness and protection can be severe. Personal data can be compromised, leading to identity theft, financial loss, and a myriad of other potential problems. Furthermore, by neglecting to prioritize online security, users expose themselves to a broader range of threats that can result in long-lasting damage to their digital lives. The sheer scale of people affected by this problem is staggering, with millions of internet users worldwide remaining uninformed and unprotected. This market size suggests that an opportunity exists for solutions that help mitigate these risks.

To address this issue, we have worked to validate whether people would be willing to pay for a solution that increases their online security and awareness. Through surveys and interviews, we have found that many individuals recognize the importance of cybersecurity but lack the knowledge or tools to adequately protect themselves. By offering a comprehensive and user-friendly solution, we can help bridge the gap between awareness and action, empowering users to take control of their online safety.

In conclusion, our project this semester focused on the issue of cyber-hygiene and the lack of awareness that persists among many internet users. By understanding the root causes of this problem, including misconceptions about computer safety and an "anyone but me" mindset, we can develop targeted solutions to educate and protect users worldwide. Ultimately, we aim to bring awareness to this pressing issue and help individuals take the necessary steps to safeguard their personal information in an increasingly digital world.

According to research, many individuals are simply unaware of the cybersecurity risks that they can be exposed to when joining public Wi-Fi networks. Many public Wi-Fi users have a false sense of security when it comes to networks and most users do not use VPN when connecting to the internet. When conveying surveys, we found that most people use public Wi-Fi for school work, social media & internet browsing, or simply because it is available. Public WIFI is convenient, and oftentimes eliminates the extra step of a required password or multi-factor identification, but poses many risks.

The Design Thinking and Empathy Process

The first stage of the Design Thinking process involves developing a sense of empathy towards the people we are designing for. We have to empathize to help define the problem. As design thinkers, we conducted real word surveys to simply ask our users why they use public Wi-Fi networks, and how it benefits them in their day-to-day life. Before our team tried to solve the problem, we asked three questions, "What? How? and Why?". This allows us to move from concrete observations that are free from assumptions to more abstract motivations driving the actions we have observed. In orchestrating the "What", we try to establish what it is that we are researching, which is the presence of VPN when using public Wi-Fi networks. In "How" we analyzed how might the user use public Wi-Fi, whether that be at a school, coffee shop, or even at the airport. We also analyzed how they feel when using the Wi-Fi, are they nervous about potential threats or, neutral? Finally, in "Why", we made educated guesses regarding the person's motivations and emotions, these motivations we can then test with users.

After we established our hypothesis, we conducted an interview-based survey to connect with real people and gain insights into the problem. The survey allowed us to talk directly to the people we are designing for in hopes of truly understanding the user's needs, hopes, desires, and goals. We structured a set of questions that would allow us to connect with our subjects on a personal level, while also being direct and targeting specific areas of information to direct the Design Thinking process. Most of the work happened before we conducted the survey. Our team members gathered together to brainstorm, and generate questions to ask users, thus aiding in providing themes or topics around our survey questions so they can flow smoothly from one to another. Our question that we wanted to ask was "How might we spread awareness and educate users on the dangers of signing into public unprotected Wi-Fi networks through pop-up advertisements to encourage the use of VPN?". We found the answer through our survey questions, data, and comparisons. Our questions included empathy and design thinking measures to make sure we truly emphasized with our users.

Questions We Asked

Some of the questions included:

How much do you know about cybersecurity?
How likely are you to update your software?
How likely are you to use the same password for multiple accounts?
When you go to places offering free/public wifi, how likely are you to connect? (1-5)
Why do you connect to this wifi?
Are you aware of the cybersecurity risks this poses?
Are you likely to change your habit on this matter?
How old are you? (ranges)

Results

Our results concluded that

Lack of awareness: Many people have a false sense of security and believe that their computers are already protected or that they are immune to hacking or cyber-attacks.
Inconvenient Security Measuring: Some people find cyber security measures, such as DUO to be excessive and inconvenient. They do not understand the purpose of using it, leading them to avoid it.
Inadequate password Management: A significant number of individuals use the same passwords across multiple platforms and accounts. They neglect regular software updates making them vulnerable to potential cyber attacks.
Uninformed Use of Public Wifi: Despite the security risks, many people rely on public wifi or convenience without realizing the potential danger to their personal information.
Difficulty in Adopting Best Practices: People often find it challenging to initiate their cybersecurity journey, unsure of where to start, what software to download, or when to update it.

This survey demonstrated that most users blindly connect to public wifi. Some of the respondents were aware of the cybersecurity risks this poses, even though they still connect to public wifi.

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