Reducing risk to security and privacy in the selection of trigger-action rules: Implicit vs. explicit priming for domestic smart devices

•Novel research focusing on how security and privacy can be maximised when users enable trigger-action rules for connected smart home devices.•Two experiments explored whether priming security / privacy contexts, as well as biographical or attitudinal characteristics, influence rule choice and associated safety.•Less risky trigger-action rules adopted because of priming, but strongest effects when priming explicit.•Rule choice shaped by age, perceived benefits of technology, and pre-existing trusting beliefs.•Results have implications for the design of trigger-action platforms and for the tailoring of safety messaging.