IntuiSec : a framework for intuitive user interaction with security in the smart home

Abstract

This thesis presents IntuiSec, a framework for intuitive user interaction with Smart Home security. The design approach of IntuiSec is to introduce a layer of indirection between user-level intent and the system-level security infrastructure. This layer is implemented by a collection of distributed middleware and user-level tools. It encapsulates system-level security events and exposes only concepts and real-world metaphors that are intuitive to non-expert users. It also translates user intent to the appropriate system-level security actions. The IntuiSec framework presents the user with intuitive steps for setting up a secure home network, establishing trusted relationships between devices, and granting temporal, selective access for both home occupants and visitors to devices within the home. The middleware exposes APIs that allow other applications to present the user with meaningful visualizations of security-related parameters and concepts. I present the IntuiSec system design and an example proof-of-concept implementation, which demonstrates the user experience and provides more insight into the framework.