Abstract
The concept is hotly debated in the safety area. Some authors agree that the effect exists, but also point out that it is poorly understood and unreliably predicted. Other re-searchers consider the entire concept fallacious. It is important to gain clarity about whether the effect exists, and to gauge its impact if such evidence can indeed be found.
In this paper we consider risk homeostasis in the context of information security. Similar to the safety area, information security could well be impaired if a risk homeostasis effect neutralizes the potential benefits of risk mitigation measures. If the risk homeostasis effect does indeed exist and does impact risk-related behaviors, people will simply elevate risky behaviors in response to feeling less vulnerable due to following security procedures and using protective technologies.
Here we discuss, in particular, the challenges we face in confirming the existence and impact of the risk homeostasis effect in information security, especially in an era of ethical research practice.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW’17) |
| Place of Publication | New York |
| Publisher | Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) |
| Pages | 57-69 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781450363846 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
| Event | New Security Paradigms Workshop - Santa Cruz, United States Duration: 1 Oct 2017 → 4 Oct 2017 http://www.nspw.org/ |
Workshop
| Workshop | New Security Paradigms Workshop |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | NSWP 2017 |
| Country | United States |
| City | Santa Cruz |
| Period | 1/10/17 → 4/10/17 |
| Internet address |
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Risk homeostasis in information security : challenges in confirming existence and verifying impact. / Renaud, Karen; Warkentin, Merrill.
Proceedings of New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW’17). New York : Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2017. p. 57-69.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
TY - GEN
T1 - Risk homeostasis in information security
T2 - challenges in confirming existence and verifying impact
AU - Renaud, Karen
AU - Warkentin, Merrill
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - The central premise behind risk homeostasis theory is that humans adapt their behaviors, based on external factors, to align with a personal risk tolerance level. In essence, this means that the safer or more secure they feel, the more likely it is that they will behave in a risky manner. If this effect exists, it serves to restrict the ability of risk mitigation techniques to effect improvements.The concept is hotly debated in the safety area. Some authors agree that the effect exists, but also point out that it is poorly understood and unreliably predicted. Other re-searchers consider the entire concept fallacious. It is important to gain clarity about whether the effect exists, and to gauge its impact if such evidence can indeed be found.In this paper we consider risk homeostasis in the context of information security. Similar to the safety area, information security could well be impaired if a risk homeostasis effect neutralizes the potential benefits of risk mitigation measures. If the risk homeostasis effect does indeed exist and does impact risk-related behaviors, people will simply elevate risky behaviors in response to feeling less vulnerable due to following security procedures and using protective technologies.Here we discuss, in particular, the challenges we face in confirming the existence and impact of the risk homeostasis effect in information security, especially in an era of ethical research practice.
AB - The central premise behind risk homeostasis theory is that humans adapt their behaviors, based on external factors, to align with a personal risk tolerance level. In essence, this means that the safer or more secure they feel, the more likely it is that they will behave in a risky manner. If this effect exists, it serves to restrict the ability of risk mitigation techniques to effect improvements.The concept is hotly debated in the safety area. Some authors agree that the effect exists, but also point out that it is poorly understood and unreliably predicted. Other re-searchers consider the entire concept fallacious. It is important to gain clarity about whether the effect exists, and to gauge its impact if such evidence can indeed be found.In this paper we consider risk homeostasis in the context of information security. Similar to the safety area, information security could well be impaired if a risk homeostasis effect neutralizes the potential benefits of risk mitigation measures. If the risk homeostasis effect does indeed exist and does impact risk-related behaviors, people will simply elevate risky behaviors in response to feeling less vulnerable due to following security procedures and using protective technologies.Here we discuss, in particular, the challenges we face in confirming the existence and impact of the risk homeostasis effect in information security, especially in an era of ethical research practice.
U2 - 10.1145/3171533.3171534
DO - 10.1145/3171533.3171534
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 9781450363846
SP - 57
EP - 69
BT - Proceedings of New Security Paradigms Workshop (NSPW’17)
PB - Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
CY - New York
ER -