Usability of Security Tools - A Tutorial

Usability of Security Tools: A Tutorial By Melissa Karolewski & Tuté Ehinlaye For the purpose of this research, it is imperative that both the ease usability and understanding be taken into account when designing a means to test a couple current security tools. These tools will be tools that are identified as commonly used security tools, such as McAfee, a Firewall, Windows Anti-Spy-ware (Windows Defender), Lavasoft Adaware, and Windows Live, One Care. All of the programs listed below, are beneficial to the protection of computers, therefore they all must be understood a minimal level. The areas in which the tutorial will focus on the interaction between user and program are: 1) Ease of Use and Complexity a. Can the user easily open up the program and understand quickly which icons do which functions and also, can the user quickly find the icons on the program or in the drop down menus. b. Are the colors appealing, and easy to distinguish text from the background. c. Readability, size, color, spacing d. Are the menus consistent 2) How quickly does the program load? a. Does the speed in loading bother the user? b. Does the program open too quickly, and cause the user to not have enough time to read everything necessary? 3) Errors a. Are there vague error alerts. b. Is the help menu not useful c. Can the user Undo operations? d. Is there a step by step initial setup to follow? 4) Can the system be used with little stress to the user? ...