Freya Gassmann

Android and iOS users' differences concerning security and privacy

We compare Android and iOS users according to their demographic differences, security and privacy awareness, and reported behavior when installing apps. We present an exploratory study based on an online survey with more than 700 German students and describe directions for further research.

Who bets on sports? Some further empirical evidence using German data

Given the rapid expansion of the German sports-betting market and recent changes in market regulations, it is interesting to reexamine the socioeconomic profile of German sports bettors: Who bets on sports? In order to analyse this question, this study used an online survey to collect data on sports-betting behaviour (N=634). It modelled participation in sports betting by means of a logit model that recovers determinants of a person’s propensity to participate in sports betting. Results show that the typical sports-bettor is 32 years old and male, has a low household income, is highly interested in sports, and is willing to take risks.

Differences between Android and iPhone Users in Their Security and Privacy Awareness

This work compares Android and iPhone users according to their security and privacy awareness when handling apps. Based on an online survey conducted with over 700 German respondents (mostly university students) we found out that Android users seem to be more aware of the risks associated with the app usage than iPhone users. For example, iPhone users almost never consider the possibility of apps sending premium-rate SMS or causing other hidden costs. Furthermore, Android users more often mention security, trust and privacy issues as important factors when they decide to use a new app. We hypothesize that the cause of these differences they are likely to arise through differences in app market policies, in app review processes and in presentation of data usage by the apps.

Unpacking Spear Phishing Susceptibility

We report the results of a field experiment where we sent to over 1200 university students an email or a Facebook message with a link to (non-existing) party pictures from a non-existing person, and later asked them about the reasons for their link clicking behavior. We registered a significant difference in clicking rates: 20% of email versus 42.5% of Facebook recipients clicked. The most frequently reported reason for clicking was curiosity (34%), followed by the explanations that the message fit recipient’s expectations (27%). Moreover, 16% thought that they might know the sender. These results show that people’s decisional heuristics are relatively easy to misuse in a targeted attack, making defense especially challenging.

Structural Analysis of Women’s Heptathlon

The heptathlon comprises the results of seven single disciplines, assuming an equal influence from each discipline, depending on the measured performance. Data analysis was based on the data recorded for the individual performances of the 10 winning heptathletes in the World Athletics Championships from 1987 to 2013 and the Olympic Games from 1988 to 2012. In addition to descriptive analysis methods, correlations, bivariate and multivariate linear regressions, and panel data regressions were used. The transformation of the performances from seconds, centimeters, and meters into points showed that the individual disciplines do not equally affect the overall competition result. The currently valid conversion formula for the run, jump, and throw disciplines prefers the sprint and jump disciplines but penalizes the athletes performing in the 800 m run, javelin throw, and shotput disciplines. Furthermore, 21% to 48% of the variance of the sum of points can be attributed to the performances in the disciplines of long jump, 200 m sprint, 100 m hurdles, and high jump. To balance the effects of the single disciplines in the heptathlon, the formula to calculate points should be reevaluated.