In the GEIGER cybersecurity project, I served as Lead Frontend Developer, Release Manager, and later as a UX Designer. We developed the “Geiger Counter,” a tool for raising cyber threat awareness in small businesses. User evaluations revealed the need to simplify risk indicators, which led to combining them into an overall security score and individual scores for categories like spam, malware, and phishing. This approach significantly enhanced usability by reducing complexity and providing users with a clear view of their security status.
In the GEIGER project, a cybersecurity initiative aimed at supporting small businesses, I initially contributed as the Lead Frontend Developer and Release Manager and later took on a UX Designer role. Our main tool, the “Geiger Counter,” is designed to raise awareness of cyber threats among micro and small enterprises. Accessible on computers and smartphones, this tool enables businesses to monitor their cybersecurity levels and take immediate action to lower risks.
User evaluations conducted in the later stages of the project revealed a need to simplify the application’s interface. Originally, multiple risk indicators were displayed, which overwhelmed users with complex data. Based on these findings, we streamlined the tool by combining individual indicators into one overall security score, along with specific scores for categories like spam, malware, and phishing. This approach significantly improved usability by reducing complexity, giving users a straightforward measurement of their security level.
A highlight of the project is the international certification program, where participants are trained as “Security Defenders” across multiple countries. In Switzerland, apprentices are certified at vocational schools, while accountants in the Netherlands and entrepreneurs in Romania receive similar training. These participants gain hands-on experience with the GEIGER Toolbox, which they apply in their workplaces to raise cyber risk awareness.
In my role as Lead Frontend Developer, I focused on creating a user-friendly interface, while as Release Manager, I ensured a smooth deployment process. As UX Designer, I led efforts to enhance the user experience, based on evaluation feedback, to create a clearer, more intuitive cybersecurity tool. This project highlights my involvement in designing a comprehensive yet simplified solution to support small businesses in navigating cybersecurity challenges.
