Better the Devil You Know: Exposing the Data Sharing Practices of Smartphone Apps

摘要: Most users of smartphone apps remain unaware what data about them is being collected, by whom, and how these are used. In this mixed methods investigation, we examine the question whether revealing key collection practices may help people make more informed privacy-related decisions. To investigate question, designed prototyped a new class privacy indicators, called Data Controller Indicators (DCIs), that expose previously hidden information flows out apps. Our lab study DCIs suggests such indicators do support in making confident consistent choices, diverse range factors, including number nature third-party companies access users' data. Furthermore, personalised DCIs, which contextualised against other an individual already uses, enable to reason effectively differential impacts on their overall exposure.