People may be less willing to follow cybersecurity advice when it takes too much time, according to a study of 1,006 adults in the United States. The study, “Protection motivation and cybersecurity intentions: a visual conjoint experiment”, was published in the Journal of Experimental Criminology. The findings suggest that organisations may improve cybersecurity participation by making protective steps easier to complete, rather than relying only on warnings about online threats. Study tested websites and security recommendationsResearchers Travis Carter and Rachel L. McNealey conducted an online experiment in early 2025. Most of the website’s visual cues did not significantly change perceived risk.