RouterSense VPN Study

We are inviting older adults to take part in a study about how people use the Internet on their phones, tablets, and computers. Instead of installing equipment in your home, this study uses a secure VPN app called WireGuard on your personal devices.

The VPN allows researchers at NYU and OHSU to securely and anonymously measure general Internet usage patterns. We cannot see the contents of your messages, emails, videos, passwords, or bank account information. We only see general patterns, such as when someone used YouTube, visited a news website, or used a banking app. We do not know who in the household used the device.

Your participation will help researchers better understand digital behaviors, sleep patterns, social engagement, and healthy aging.

FAQs

Overview

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: We want to better understand how older adults use digital devices in everyday life. We are interested in patterns such as sleep schedules, internet use, social engagement, and changes in digital behaviors over time.

Q: How does the study work?

A: Participants install a secure VPN application called WireGuard on their phone or other personal devices. Once installed, the VPN runs quietly in the background and securely sends Internet traffic metadata to the RouterSense research platform for analysis.

Q: What do I need to do?

A: Most participants only need to:

  1. Install the WireGuard VPN app.
  2. Scan a QR code provided by the study.
  3. Keep the VPN turned on.
  4. Complete a short weekly survey.

After setup, you can continue using your devices normally.

Q: Do I need to change how I use my phone?

A: No. We want participants to continue their normal daily routines. Use your phone, tablet, or computer exactly as you normally would.

Q: What are the benefits of participating?

A: There are several potential benefits to participating in this study.

First, your participation will help researchers better understand how digital behaviors relate to health, aging, sleep, social engagement, and well-being. The knowledge gained from this study may help researchers develop new tools for monitoring health and supporting older adults in the future.

Second, participants who connect through the RouterSense VPN may receive additional cybersecurity benefits. The RouterSense infrastructure provides basic protection against certain online threats, including malicious websites, scams, phishing attempts, malware distribution sites, and other known cybersecurity risks. While no security system can eliminate all risks, the VPN may provide an additional layer of protection while you browse the Internet.

Third, participants will receive compensation for their time and participation. Participants who successfully complete the study will receive $30 per month, for a maximum of $90 over the three-month study period.

To qualify for monthly compensation, participants must:

The study team will monitor VPN connectivity automatically. If the VPN is accidentally turned off or disconnected for an extended period, participants may receive an SMS reminder to turn it back on.

Q: Are there any risks?

A: The primary risk is loss of privacy if research data were ever improperly accessed. To reduce this risk, we use encryption, secure servers, and privacy-preserving data collection methods. We do not collect the contents of messages, emails, videos, passwords, or financial information.

Installation

Q: How do I join the study?

A: Eligible participants will receive an email with instructions for accessing the RouterSense participant portal.

Q: What is the participant portal?

A: The participant portal is a secure website that provides setup instructions and a unique QR code for your study account.

Q: What is a QR code?

A: A QR code is a square barcode that your phone can scan. When you scan the QR code with the WireGuard app, it automatically configures the VPN for you.

Q: Do I need to be technical to participate?

A: No. The installation process is designed to be simple. Most participants can complete the setup themselves by following the instructions provided.

Q: What if I need help?

A: Study technicians are available to help. If you have trouble installing or using the VPN, you can contact the study team by phone, text message, or email. A technician can walk you through the setup process step-by-step.

Q: Do I need to buy any equipment?

A: No. This study does not require any special hardware, sensors, routers, or devices. The only requirement is installing the WireGuard VPN application on your personal device.

Q: Do I need to visit a clinic or research lab?

A: No. The study can be completed entirely from your home or wherever you normally use your devices.

Q: How long does the study last?

A: The study lasts approximately three months.

Q: What happens if I accidentally turn off the VPN?

A: That's okay. You can turn it back on at any time. If the VPN remains off for an extended period, we may send you a text message reminder.

Q: What happens when the study ends?

A: At the end of the study, you can simply delete the WireGuard app or remove the VPN from your device, just like removing any other application.

Weekly Surveys

Q: Will I have to fill out surveys?

A: Yes. Once each week, we will send you a link to a short survey.

Q: What kinds of questions are asked?

A: The surveys may ask about:

Q: How long do the surveys take?

A: Most weekly surveys take only a few minutes to complete.

Privacy

Q: What is a VPN?

A: VPN stands for "Virtual Private Network." A VPN is a common technology used by millions of people and organizations to securely route Internet traffic through another network. Many companies use VPNs to allow employees to work remotely, and many consumers use VPNs to improve privacy and security while browsing the Internet.

In this study, the WireGuard VPN securely routes Internet traffic metadata to the RouterSense research platform. The VPN runs quietly in the background and does not change how you normally use your device. Once installed, most participants rarely need to interact with it.

Q: What can researchers actually see?

A: The information available to RouterSense is similar to the information already visible to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or wireless carrier when you use the Internet. For example, they can generally see that your device communicated with YouTube, Gmail, Facebook, or a banking website, and when those connections occurred.

However, RouterSense is designed to collect this information for research purposes with stronger privacy protections than those typically used by commercial Internet providers. We do not know who in the household is using a device, and we do not attempt to identify the individual using the device at any particular moment.

For example:

Our goal is to understand broad behavioral patterns, such as sleep schedules, nighttime phone use, social engagement, and changes in digital activity over time—not the specific content of what participants view, read, write, or communicate.

Q: What information is collected?

A: The system collects Internet traffic metadata, such as:

Q: Can you see my emails, messages, or photos?

A: No.

We cannot see:

For example, we may know that someone used YouTube, but we cannot see which video was watched.

Q: Can you see what I type?

A: No. The study does not collect anything you type into websites, apps, forms, or messages.

Q: Can you see my banking information?

A: No. We may know that a banking application was used, but we cannot see account numbers, balances, transactions, passwords, or any other financial information.

Q: Do you know who in my household is using a particular app?

A: No. We only observe activity from enrolled devices. We do not know who was holding or using the device at a particular moment.

Q: What if your systems are hacked?

A: We use encryption and security controls to protect study data. In addition, the study focuses on collecting Internet traffic metadata rather than the contents of communications. Even in the unlikely event of a breach, the information available would be limited compared to what is stored by many commercial apps and websites.

Q: Can I leave the study at any time?

A: Yes. Participation is completely voluntary. You may stop participating at any time by contacting the study team or removing the WireGuard VPN from your device.

Questions?

If you have questions about the study, installation process, privacy protections, or technical issues, please contact the RouterSense study team. We are happy to help.