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It’s time for bed, but first, some routine tasks:
- Put on your pajamas.
- Brush your teeth
- Open windows.
- Unlock doors.
- Put your wallet, personal documents, and bank information in a convenient pile on the kitchen counter.
Sweet Dreams.
If that scenario is disturbing, consider how often the same confidential information is entered on our digital devices. Without the proper security protocols, our assets and identities are easy prey. Worse like designers Of digital interfaces, a disregard for security puts users at risk: financial, professional, relational, and emotional.
Security is not a trend or promotional tactic, it is a crucial aspect of user experience and interface design.
The ideal interface is simple to operate and is protected against attempts to steal users’ private information. The delivery of such a design is generally framed as a tradeoff between usability and security:
- If the interface is easy to use, it is less secure.
- If it is safe, it is more difficult to use.
This compensation is a myth. We can design interfaces that are simple and sure without compromising the quality of any. Here, UX designers play a critical role in ensuring that both technical demands and user needs are met.
In many ways, UX designers are interpreters. They decipher the technical requirements and make them understandable to users. They also exercise situational awareness by deciding when to focus on simplicity or when to involve sophisticated security measures. Balance is key, but it can only be achieved by including all stakeholders from the early design stages.
Engage Stakeholders in UX Security Early
There are several parts that must be consulted to design a safe and successful digital product. For example, design teams must ensure that their products comply with relevant regulations such as HIPAA for the healthcare industry and PCI DSS for banking and financial services. Additionally, the security features implemented by design teams must meet the standards set by the technical teams behind digital products.
When it comes to security, it’s not uncommon for user input to be ignored. But to truly meet users’ security needs, designers must understand their motivations, behaviors, and expectations. Often users know very little about digital security, so designers must learn to anticipate the levels of risk users will face when navigating through various screens and features. The sooner risks can be identified within the design process, the better.
Ignoring stakeholders or incorporating their input at the end of the design process doubles the risk. It can open security holes in products that might otherwise have been avoided, or it can lead to products that are so safe that they are barely usable.
Design methods for product safety.
Encryption
Encryption is a method of converting confidential information into code that appears to be random. It is an important design consideration in digital products with communication functions. In applications where calls, texts, videos, images and documents are frequently exchanged (think WhatsApp), end-to-end encryption ensures that only users involved in a conversation can see the data being exchanged.
This means that no one, not the company behind an app, not data criminals, not even the government, can see the content of the messages. When users know that their information is protected by such measures, they are much more willing to extend trust.
Authentication
It is essential to verify that only the owner of an account can log in and that all intruders are blocked. Authentication is the most effective way to protect digital products from unauthorized access. Features such as username and password requirements should be identified and tested early in the design process.
For added security, two-factor authentication (2FA) can be added. With 2FA, a username and password are entered, and a login code is sent to a mobile phone or email address.
Data privacy
Ultimately, data privacy is an ethical consideration for designers and businesses. When users exchange their personal data in exchange for access to a digital product, they choose to believe that the company that oversees the product will handle their information with integrity. They also trust that the functions implemented by designers and developers can resist data attacks.
Improves user privacy and data privacy
It bears repeating, digital products are made for users, not the other way around. User interactions with products should never carry the risk of their data being leaked or stolen. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Most cyber crime is carried out with the intention of obtaining personal data from users, but UX designers can help. How is that? By implementing features that encourage users to choose stronger passwords and avoid putting too much personal data online.
For example, a product’s authentication interface can use a friendly message to inform users about why it is important to have stronger passwords. Instead of forcing users to create a password with 12 characters, upper and lower case letters, a number, and a symbol, the message could simply say: “You need a stronger password. Here’s why it matters. “In this way, users better understand the need to protect their data and privacy.
Remove unnecessary security obstacles
If product security depends on bringing in all stakeholders, designers should take the time to consult with developers and cyber security professionals. Developers generally have restrictions that affect design and can provide information on the effectiveness of UX security features implemented by designers. Cybersecurity professionals can educate designers on the latest security strategies, tools, and compliance standards.
One caveat: Consulting security experts is good, but overdoing security measures makes digital products cumbersome and encourages users to look elsewhere. Vague messages like “Your Internet connection is not secure” lead users to bypass security features intended for their protection.
Ultimately, it is poorly reflected in business when legitimate users are unable to perform tasks or get locked out of their accounts due to overly complicated digital security.
Social engineering insurance
Of all the digital security attacks that take place, one scheme is considerably more common than any other. It accounts for almost 90% of infringements worldwide and is based more on the art of deception than on sophisticated technical skills. What is this nefarious tactic?
Identity fraud.
Like scammers of yesteryear, identity fraud (which occurs most frequently in emails) relies heavily on social engineering strategies to scare, pressure, and confuse users into handing over confidential information and hard-earned cash. To protect against phishing attacks, designers can create security forums that allow users to report spam and post warnings to other users. They can also use pop-up windows or messages within their applications to alert users to known phishing attempts.
Designers also need digital security
For all the effort that goes into security, an overlooked vulnerability can seriously compromise the integrity of digital products. It has little to do with technology: they are the designers themselves.
For every product created, hundreds (even thousands) of design artifacts are generated. Dozens of communication channels are used. Links to strategic documents are sent to multiple parties. And, distributed teams increasingly rely on cloud-based design tools.
If designers don’t take precautions to protect their work and communications, attackers will find ways to infiltrate weaknesses in the organization. This can mean setting up VPN, receiving cybersecurity training, and enacting communication and asset management guidelines to avoid loose ends.
Design for safety
Secure and usable interfaces don’t happen by accident. They are the result of designers taking the time to identify data vulnerability points and engaging stakeholders early in the creative process. Security is no different than any other critical feature: the needs of end users should not be ignored.
When designers find useful ways to communicate the value of security And by ensuring that security features operate efficiently, users will reward companies that oversee digital products with their continued trust and commitment.
the Toptal design blog is a center for advanced design studies conducted by professional designers in the Toptal network on all facets of digital design, ranging from detailed design tutorials to in-depth coverage of new design trends, tools and techniques. You can read the original piece written by Mayank Sharma here. Follow TopTal Design’s blog at Twitter, Dribbble Behance LinkedIn Facebook and Instagram
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