Secure Comics are a series of online interactive comic books that raise awareness about computer security and teach users how to stay vigilant against potential threats. They were created as a part of a research initiative to improve people’s understanding of computer security through visualizations. Secure Comics are created by members of the CHORUS Lab and Hotsoft Lab from Carleton University.

From June 2013 to April 2014, this project has been funded by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC); the views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the OPC.

Partial funding was also provided by the NSERC ISSNet Strategic Network (2012-2013) and the GRAND Networks of Centers of Excellence (2013).




Leah Zhang-Kennedy, Ph.D Candidate, Carleton University.
Email: leahzhang@cmail.carleton.ca

Sonia Chiasson, Assistant Professor, Carleton University.
Email: chiasson@scs.carleton.ca

Robert Biddle, Professor, Carleton University.
Email: robert_biddle@carleton.ca

L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson, and R. Biddle. (2015) The Role of Instructional Design in Persuasion: A Comics Approach for Improving Cyber Security. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (IJHCI) on Persuasive Interactive Systems, Taylor & Francis. (To appear)

L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson, and R. Biddle. (2014) Stop clicking on "update later": Persuading users they need up-to-date antivirus protection. Persuasive 2014, Padua, Italy. (Refereed full paper)

L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson. (2014) Using Comics to Teach Users About Mobile Online Privacy. Technical Report TR-14-02, School of Computer Science, Carleton University. (Technical Report)

C. Mekhail, L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson. (2014) Visualizations to Teach about Mobile Online Privacy. Persuasive 2014 Annual Conference, Padua, Italy. (Refereed poster abstract)

L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson, R. Biddle (2013). Password Advice Shouldn’t Be Boring: Visualizing Password Guessing Attacks. APGW eCrime, IEEE. (Refereed full paper)

L. Zhang-Kennedy. (2013) Interactive Comics as Visual Narratives in Computer Security Education. NSERC ISSNet Annual Workshop, Victoria, BC. (Refereed workshop abstract)

L. Zhang, S. Chiasson, R. Biddle (2013). Interactive Comics as Visual Narratives in Computer Security Education. GRAND NCE Annual Conference, May 2013. (Refereed short paper)

L. Zhang, S. Chiasson, R. Biddle (2013). Interactive comics to teach about computer security. GRAND NCE Annual Conference, Toronto, ON, May 2013. (Refereed poster)

L. Zhang-Kennedy, S. Chiasson, and R. Biddle. (2013) Interactive Comics as Visual Narratives in Computer Security Education. CRA-W Grad Cohort Workshop, Boston, MA. (Poster)

L. Zhang, S. Chiasson, R. Biddle (2012). Teaching about Password Guessing Attacks Through Visualizations. GRAND NCE Annual Conference, Montreal, QC, May 2012. (Refereed poster)