[tor-bugs] #20843 [User Experience]: Tor Browser: How do we help users to use higher security?

Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki blackhole at torproject.org
Tue Jan 10 17:43:00 UTC 2017


#20843: Tor Browser: How do we help users to use higher security?
-----------------------------+---------------------
 Reporter:  arthuredelstein  |          Owner:
     Type:  defect           |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Medium           |      Milestone:
Component:  User Experience  |        Version:
 Severity:  Normal           |     Resolution:
 Keywords:                   |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:                   |         Points:
 Reviewer:                   |        Sponsor:
-----------------------------+---------------------

Comment (by lnl):

 Replying to [comment:5 ninavizz]:
 > Howdy—as a longtime UX'er (who's had a lot of experience with both
 actual design and with users in research efforts), many of the Tor
 browser's usability issues feel pretty easily obvious and resolvable. I
 don't feel that many would require testing to be improved upon from how
 things are today. I'm a novice to security tech, and don't code (or plan
 to ever learn how to code) — and almost all "how to" things about Tor are
 written and visually/cognitively presented in what reads as techie
 jibberish, to me. The website is also somewhat painful to make sense of.

 I agree with you. I took this job is that there is a lot of good work to
 be done, and I believe in Tor.

 > I realize the above sounds rude and potentially arrogant. It's said only
 to be completely honest, and as a big believer in a product I want more
 folks worldwide to have greater cognitive access to.

 I don't think it's arrogant, but I think you may be missing some context.
 The UX team is ~2 months old, and I'm a one-person team. I have
 constraints on what I can work when--there are milestones we need to meet
 for particular sponsors. I do things that need to be done to meet those
 goals, since that's our end of the deal. That's where the funding for my
 job comes from.

 This means that I worked on the security slider, metrics website, and OONI
 web and mobile interfaces--even when I knew that the front page of
 torproject.org needed work, and the browser needed work. We're currently
 writing a proposal to get funding specifically to improve the browser and
 tor project website! I hope we get it.

 > I put together some wireframes to articulate issues I've observed as the
 most show-stopping for me, as a new user of the Tor browser.
 >
 > https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BzRaXGZ006aoWHJLd0hBT3IyRUE

 I really like how the security slider is more accessible, how the color
 choices give stronger brand presence, and the simplicity of the interface.

 > Longer term, I'd also recommend a design director as a permanent staff
 hire of the Tor project. For UX stuff on the browser, organizing and
 executing user research projects (qualitative studies and in-person
 testing are essential), and shaping user-facing advocacy/education
 materials, a full-time lead of volunteer contributing designers and
 writers, and someone to shape best practices for managing design within
 the Tor community, seems like a missing piece that could make a big
 difference. Shorter-term, potentially coordinating with some of the UX'ers
 at Mozilla for bi-weekly reviews of user-facing product tweaks/additions?
 I'd be happy to make some introductions, if that'd help.

 I have extensive experience in qualitative and quantitative user studies
 and interface and interaction design. I do think that reviews would be
 helpful for me. I also am confident in my abilities to write, but I just
 don't have enough time for revising the copy on top of my other
 responsibilities. I would also love to work with more designers to create
 images and videos to use in interfaces, advocacy, and education. Let's
 chat about this more: linda at torproject.org or linda on irc #tor-dev or
 #tor-project. :)

--
Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/20843#comment:10>
Tor Bug Tracker & Wiki <https://trac.torproject.org/>
The Tor Project: anonymity online


More information about the tor-bugs mailing list