Bachelorthesis Project: Evaluating Phishing Warning Techniques

Overview

This repository contains all the materials related to my Bachelorthesis project on evaluating visual warnings in email clients.

Contents

• thunderbird_plugin/: Source code for the Thunderbird plugin developed as part of this thesis.
• shuffle_script/: A python script used in the study to randomize the email order after each participant.
• study_materials/: Everything related to the study procedure, e.g. protocol, warning designs and email samples.
• study_results/: Contains the collected eye tracking data and interview transcripts.
• thesis_files/: The thesis latex files and document.
• final_pres/: Slides used for the thesis defense presentation.

Plugin Installation

To install the plugin in your local Thunderbird setup, follow these steps:

1. Clone this repository to your machine.
2. Install the plugin by loading the manifest.json file through the debugging menu.

Using the Mock Phishing Emails

To test the plugin with the provided email samples:

1. Import the emails into your Thunderbird client.
2. Ensure the plugin is active.
3. Open each email and observe the behavior of the visual warnings.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to my thesis advisors for guidance and support throughout this project.
• Appreciation to all participants in the study for their invaluable contributions to the research.
• Thanks to the University of the Bundeswehr for providing the resources needed to complete this work.