Do Women in Conservative Societies (Not) Follow Smartphone Security Advice? A Case Study of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

Women in conservative cultures, are an understudied population when it comes to investigating how users keep their devices and data safe. Owing to the recent trend in smartphone adoption and the simultaneous increase in attacks targeting women in conservative societies, this study uses the rational decision model to investigate the motivations of this user group for (not) following common smartphone security advice. We focus on four pieces of smartphone security advice, i.e., using screen lock, updating device software, deleting suspicious text messages, and using secure WIFI networks. Through interviews with 156 women from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, we re-validate the rational decision model, identify key gaps in perception between those who follow common smartphone security advice and those who do not, help explain participants' reasons behind their decisions and suggest recommendations for improving risk communication. Additionally, we describe similarities and differences between the studied population and the West in terms of sources for receiving smartphone security advice.