Exploring Digital Security and Privacy in Relative Poverty in Germany - A Qualitative Interview Study

Explore findings from a 13-minute conference presentation at USENIX Security '24 examining digital security and privacy challenges faced by low-income users in Germany. Through qualitative interviews with 28 participants, learn how financial constraints impact security practices and privacy decisions. Discover how despite having basic technological literacy and security awareness, economic limitations force users into potentially risky behaviors like using untrusted cloud storage or relying on outdated hardware. Gain insights into the mindset of low-income users who may falsely believe their limited resources make them less attractive targets for attacks. Understand recommendations for the security and privacy community to better serve vulnerable populations by designing solutions that account for economic constraints and diverse user needs in Global North countries.