Exploring User Perceptions of Security Auditing in the Web3 Ecosystem
Molly Zhuangtong Huang
Network and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium 2025 · Day 1 · Privacy & Usability 1
In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and increasing decentralization, the Web3 ecosystem has emerged as a transformative force, promising users greater control over their data and interactions through blockchain technology. However, this burgeoning landscape is not without its perils. Despite its rapid growth and appeal to millions globally, Web3 is frequently plagued by significant security incidents, leading to substantial financial losses for users. To counter these pervasive threats, a variety of security solutions have surfaced, with **security auditing** standing out as a crucial and increasingly prominent mechanism. This talk, presented by Molly Zhuangtong Huang from the University of Macau, delves into an often-overlooked dimension of Web3 security: the user's perception of these auditing processes.
AI review
User study on perceptions of Web3 auditing. Methodologically thin — 20 interviews and Reddit sentiment analysis — and the findings amount to 'users don't read audit reports carefully and don't fully trust them,' which anyone who has spent a week in this space already knows. The recommendations are generic enough to apply to any nascent industry with trust problems.