Message distribution device, message distribution method, and message distribution program

Abstract

To provide a message delivery apparatus which can increase an implementation rate of security measures to be taken by a user.SOLUTION: An information management server 10 includes: an image acquisition unit 112 which acquires an original image showing the appearance of a user and a group of processed images including an image which is better than the original image for the user and an image which is worse than the original image by rank; a terminal information acquisition unit 113 which acquires terminal information including state of implementation of security measures; a message generation unit 117 which generates display data by adding any of the images to a message asking for taking security measures which have not been implemented; a message delivery unit 118 which delivers the display data to a terminal of the user; and a message reply acquisition unit 119 which acquires a reply to the delivered message, the reply including whether the measures have been taken or not. The message generation unit 117 selects an image in the rank according to evaluation based on replies to past messages, out of the original image and the group of processed images.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method, and a program for delivering a notification message regarding the security of a terminal. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, cyber attacks using malware have become more sophisticated, causing a large number of damages due to spam emails or unauthorized access, etc. In this situation, it is becoming more important than ever to implement security measures on the devices that users use.

[0003] Patent Document 1 proposes a device that notifies users of necessary information from security information collected from trusted sites, such as the current patch application status, etc. This allows users to obtain security information in a timely manner and, by applying patches in accordance with the patch information, they can always use their hosts safely.

[0004] On the other hand, generally, when updating the OS or other software, even if the update is set to automatic, it is often necessary to restart the device, so users must take measures themselves. For this reason, it is important to have measures to encourage users to take action (to take measures).

[0005] Non-Patent Document 1 introduces how changes in one's face (appearance) affect how others perceive one, which in turn changes one's own behavior. This paper describes public self-consciousness (impression management), which is the awareness of one's appearance in the eyes of others, but the degree to which this is the case varies from person to person.

[0006] Non-patent document 2 presents a method of encouraging people to start a certain behavior by having them imagine themselves performing that behavior (self-reevaluation), and a method of encouraging people to maintain a certain behavior by giving rewards for continuing to perform that behavior (reinforcement management).

[0007] Non-patent document 3 defines personal awareness as an employee's realization that "I must implement information security measures," and shows the results of applying security education content that stimulates personal awareness to password management and SNS management. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-256370 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Mariko Yamamoto, Facial Impressions and Interpersonal Influences, Journal of the Japanese Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 34, No. 4, pp. 351-358, 2000. [Non-patent document 2] Tsuda, A. et al., Stress Management Based on the Multi-Theory Integration Model (TTM): A Practical Guide for Each Stage of Behavioral Change, Kurume University Psychology Research, No. 9, pp. 77-88, 2010. [Non-patent document 3] A. Hagiya and M. Inaba, "Influence of Educational Items and Methods on the Effectiveness of Information Security Education," IPSJ Research Report, Computer Security (CSEC), Vol. 88, No. 34, 2020. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The message provided by the method of Patent Document 1 is the same for all users, so it is not expected that users will be more conscious of taking security measures themselves. Furthermore, the psychological effects cited in Non-Patent Documents 1 and 2 are not intended for security purposes and are not appropriately personalized for each user. Non-Patent Document 3 shows that educational content can raise awareness of personal issues, but it is difficult to achieve the same impact on each user with notification messages regarding security measures.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a message distribution device, a message distribution method, and a message distribution program that can improve the rate at which users themselves implement security measures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The message delivery device of the present invention comprises an image acquisition unit that acquires, for each user, an original image representing the user's appearance, together with a group of processed images that are ranked and include one or more images that are superior to the original image and one or more images that are inferior to the original image; a terminal information acquisition unit that acquires terminal information including the implementation status of security measures on the user's terminal; a message creation unit that determines, based on the terminal information, items of security measures that have not yet been implemented, and creates display data in response to a message requesting the implementation of the items, to which one of the original image and the group of processed images is attached; a message delivery unit that delivers the display data to the user's terminal; and a message response acquisition unit that acquires a response to the delivered message including whether or not the items have been implemented, and the message creation unit selects an image from the original image and the group of processed images that is ranked according to an evaluation based on responses to past messages.

[0013] The message creating unit may select an image ranked higher or lower depending on whether or not the implementation was performed in a reply to a previous message.

[0014] The message distribution device includes a questionnaire distribution unit that distributes a questionnaire including items asking about the user's implementation status of security measures or level of interest, a questionnaire result acquisition unit that acquires responses to the questionnaire, and a determination unit that determines the user's stage of behavioral change regarding security measures based on the responses to the questionnaire, the terminal information, and responses to the past messages, and the message creation unit may select an image from the original image and the group of processed images in a ranking corresponding to the determined stage of behavioral change.

[0015] The image acquisition unit may acquire a facial image of the user as the original image.

[0016] The image acquisition unit may process the original images in accordance with a predetermined rule to create the group of processed images.

[0017] The message distribution device includes a questionnaire distribution unit that distributes a questionnaire including items asking about the user's level of interest in public self-consciousness, and a questionnaire result acquisition unit that acquires responses to the questionnaire, and the message creation unit may add one of the original image and the group of processed images to the message only to users who, in their responses to the questionnaire, have a predetermined level of interest in public self-consciousness or higher.

[0018] The message delivery method of the present invention is carried out by a computer, which performs the following steps: an image acquisition step for acquiring, for each user, an original image representing the user's appearance, together with a group of processed images that are ranked and include one or more images that are superior to the original image and one or more images that are inferior to the original image; a terminal information acquisition step for acquiring terminal information including the implementation status of security measures on the user's terminal; a message creation step for determining, based on the terminal information, items of security measures that have not yet been implemented, and creating display data in response to a message requesting the implementation of those items, to which one of the original image and the group of processed images is attached; a message delivery step for delivering the display data to the user's terminal; and a message response acquisition step for acquiring a response to the delivered message including whether or not the items have been implemented; and in the message creation step, an image from the original image and the group of processed images is selected in a ranking according to an evaluation based on responses to past messages.

[0019] A message distribution program according to the present invention causes a computer to function as the message distribution device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, the rate at which users themselves implement security measures can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information management server according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display screen in the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a first flowchart showing a process of selecting a face image to be added to a message in an embodiment. [Figure 5]10 is a second flowchart showing the process of selecting a face image to be added to a message in the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The message distribution device of this embodiment notifies the user of a message that utilizes the user's psychological characteristics, thereby encouraging the user to take security measures, such as updating the OS or other software on the device (terminal) being used, and encouraging the user to continue that action. Although this embodiment can be applied to various security measures such as updating an OS (applying a correction patch) or updating other software, the following mainly illustrates the case of updating an OS.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a management system 1 according to this embodiment. The management system 1 includes an information management server 10 (message distribution device) equipped with a database, and a user terminal 20, to which management software is distributed.

[0024] The management system 1 executes a distribution rule registration process (1), a facial image processing process (2), a terminal information acquisition process (3), a questionnaire distribution process (4), a questionnaire result acquisition process (5), a behavioral change stage determination process (6), a message creation process (7), a message distribution process (8), and a message response acquisition process (9) by operating in cooperation with the information management server 10 and the software of the user terminal 20.

[0025] As a result, the information management server 10 manages messages and their distribution conditions, and distributes to the user terminal 20 a message that prompts the user terminal 20 to take necessary security measures (OS update) in accordance with the terminal information. At this time, the information management server 10 utilizes the user's self-awareness as a psychological characteristic of the user, and by displaying an image of the user's face in the message sent to prompt the user to update the OS, the user's sense of ownership is enhanced, thereby enhancing the user's self-awareness and promoting or continuing the implementation of countermeasures. Furthermore, in the message distribution method of this embodiment, as will be described later, self-reevaluation and reinforcement management are utilized, and the facial image is changed, thereby improving the rate at which measures are taken.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the functional configuration of the information management server 10 in this embodiment. The information management server 10 is an information processing device (computer) that includes a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, various data input / output devices, communication devices, and the like.

[0027] The control unit 11 is a part that controls the entire information management server 10, and realizes each function in this embodiment by appropriately reading and executing various programs stored in the storage unit 12. The control unit 11 may be a CPU.

[0028] The storage unit 12 is a storage area for various programs for causing the hardware group to function as the information management server 10, various data, etc., and may be a ROM, RAM, flash memory, hard disk drive (HDD), or the like. Specifically, the storage unit 12 stores various databases in addition to a program (message distribution program) for causing the control unit 11 to execute each function of this embodiment.

[0029] The control unit 11 includes a distribution rule registration unit 111, an image acquisition unit 112, a terminal information acquisition unit 113, a questionnaire distribution unit 114, a questionnaire result acquisition unit 115, a stage determination unit 116, a message creation unit 117, a message distribution unit 118, and a message response acquisition unit 119.

[0030] The distribution rule registration unit 111 is a functional unit responsible for the distribution rule registration process (1), and receives terminal distribution conditions 121 for messages encouraging the implementation of security measures based on knowledge obtained from questionnaire results, etc., in advance from the system administrator directly or via the system administrator's terminal, and registers the conditions in the database of the storage unit 12.

[0031] Knowledge gained from survey results, etc., may include, for example, the stage of behavioral change determined based on the user's interest, concern, and awareness of security measures, as well as the implementation status of measures, or appropriate delivery timing based on personality, risk awareness, and the work status on the user terminal 20.

[0032] Here, the behavioral change stage represents a gradual progression from a state of being indifferent to implementing security measures to a state of continuously implementing them. For example, the stages are defined as follows, and it is determined which stage each user is in. Indifferent stage: No interest or concern in security measures, and no understanding of current available security measures. Interest stage: People are interested in security measures or are aware of the security measures currently available, but do not want to take them. Preparation stage: You want to take all the security measures you can currently take, but you are not implementing the security measures that you should be taking yourself. Action stage: You occasionally implement necessary security measures yourself, but do not do so consistently. Maintenance stage: You continue to implement the necessary security measures yourself.

[0033] Furthermore, the distribution rule registration unit 111 registers, as a message 122 in the database of the storage unit 12, a message to be notified according to the type of security measure and the user's attributes such as the behavioral change stage.

[0034] When the terminal delivery conditions 121 and the message 122 are registered, the delivery rule registration unit 111 automatically initializes delivery rules 123 suited to the attribute information including the behavioral change stage of each user and the type of security measure.

[0035] Furthermore, the delivery rule registration unit 111 determines multiple elements (message text, UI design, delivery timing, etc.) that define the characteristics of the message to be delivered individually based on the attribute information of each user (user terminal 20), and records them as a terminal delivery setting log 124 in the database of the memory unit 12.

[0036] Thereafter, the delivery rule registration unit 111 records the terminal delivery setting log 124 each time it determines new terminal delivery settings in accordance with predetermined rules based on the status of each user terminal 20 obtained by the terminal information acquisition process (3) or the message response acquisition process (9).

[0037] The image acquisition unit 112 is a functional unit responsible for the facial image processing (2), and acquires, for each user using the services of the management system 1, an original image representing the user's actual appearance, as well as a group of processed images that are ranked and include one or more ideal images that are superior to the original image for the user, and one or more non-ideal images that are inferior to the original image. The acquired group of images is linked to the user and recorded as user images 125 in the database of the storage unit 12.

[0038] For example, the image acquisition unit 112 acquires an image (photograph) of the user's own face as an original image, and further accepts input of an image that has been edited to make the face more ideal than the original image, and an image that has been edited to make the face less ideal. At this time, the image acquisition unit 112 may automatically process the original image according to predetermined rules, or process it in response to user input, using existing software (e.g., a processing tool such as SNOW (registered trademark)), to create a group of processed images. The group of images to be registered (the original image and the processed image group) may be character images of the user's own preference, such as avatar images, but the following description will be given taking face images as an example.

[0039] The terminal information acquisition unit 113 is a functional unit that performs the terminal information acquisition process (3), and periodically acquires terminal information such as the OS version and patch application status of the user terminal 20 through the software of the user terminal 20 in order to understand the implementation status of security measures by the user. The acquired terminal information is recorded as a terminal information log 126 in the database of the storage unit 12.

[0040] The questionnaire distribution unit 114 is a functional unit that performs the questionnaire distribution process (4), and distributes to the user terminal 20 a questionnaire that includes questions about the implementation status of security measures by the user or the degree of interest.

[0041] The survey result acquisition unit 115 is a functional unit that performs the survey result acquisition process (5) and acquires responses to the survey from the user terminal 20. The acquired information is recorded as a survey log 127 in the database of the storage unit 12.

[0042] The stage determination unit 116 is a functional unit that performs the behavioral change stage determination process (6), and determines the user's behavioral change stage regarding security measures based on the answers to the questionnaire, the terminal information, and the user's past answers to the messages described below.

[0043] The information management server 10 can determine personalized text, UI design, and delivery timing for each of the behavioral change stages classified in this way, based on the user's awareness and the status of countermeasure implementation as determined from the questionnaire responses. In this embodiment, an image that utilizes the psychological characteristics of the user is further added to such a personalized message.

[0044] The message creation unit 117 is a functional unit responsible for the message creation process (7), and determines the security measures (e.g., OS update) that have not been implemented in the user terminal 20 based on the terminal information log 126 acquired by the terminal information acquisition unit 113, and creates display data in response to a message requesting the implementation of the determined measures, with a facial image selected from the original image and processed images included in the user image 125 according to the implementation status of the measures.

[0045] At this time, the message creating unit 117 selects, from the original image and the group of processed images, images ranked according to the evaluation based on the replies to past messages. Specifically, the message creating unit 117 selects images from the original image and processed image group, for example, by changing the order of the images depending on whether or not they were implemented in the reply to the previous message. Alternatively, the message creating unit 117 may select an image ranked according to the behavioral change stage determined by the stage determining unit 116. In addition to the ranking according to the behavioral change stage, the ranking may also be adjusted according to the response to the previous message (whether or not the OS was updated).

[0046] Furthermore, the questionnaire distribution unit 114 may distribute a questionnaire that further includes an item asking about the user's level of interest in public self-awareness (impression management). For users who are interested in impression management, the effects of self-awareness, self-reevaluation, and reinforcement management used in this embodiment can be expected to be greater. Therefore, the message creation unit 117 may add either an original image or a group of processed images to a message only for users who have a predetermined level of interest in public self-awareness in their responses to the questionnaire.

[0047] The message delivery unit 118 is a functional unit that performs the message delivery process (8), and delivers the display data created by the message creation unit 117 to the user terminal 20.

[0048] The message response acquisition unit 119 is a functional unit that performs the message response acquisition process (9), and acquires a response from the user terminal 20 in response to the message delivered by the message delivery unit 118, including whether or not the unimplemented security measures have been implemented. The contents of the message delivered to the user terminal 20 and the reply results are recorded as a message delivery log 128 in the database of the storage unit 12.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a message display screen in this embodiment. Here, a dialog box is displayed with a message urging users to update their OS with the security update program, along with buttons for "Update now" and "Update later." The message response acquisition unit 119 acquires whether or not security measures have been implemented in response to the message delivered to the user, that is, whether "Update now" or "Update later" was selected (which button was pressed). If "Update now" is selected, the update program is applied to the user terminal 20, and if "Update later" is selected, the message is delivered again at the same timing, for example, after a certain period of time has elapsed.

[0050] This message is sent at a predetermined timing to prompt the user to update the OS, and an image of the user's face is also displayed. In the example dialog, the user's own face image (original image), or an ideal or non-ideal face image is selectively displayed on the left side of the message.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a first flowchart showing the process of selecting a facial image to be added to a message by message creation unit 117 in this embodiment. Here, a case is shown in which the behavioral change stage of the target user is unknown, and the user's face image is selected depending on the response to the previous message, that is, whether or not a countermeasure has been implemented.

[0052] In step S1, the message creating unit 117 selects an original image of the user and adds it to the message, for example, in an initial state where there is no message delivery log.

[0053] In step S2, message creation unit 117 receives a response to the message created in step S1 and determines whether an OS update has been performed. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S3, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S4.

[0054] In step S3, the message creating unit 117 selects a higher-ranked (ideal) face image than the previous time and adds it to the message as reinforcement management (reward) for the OS update.

[0055] In step S4, the message creation unit 117 selects a facial image that is lower in quality (less ideal) than the previous one and attaches it to the message as a self-evaluation for not updating the OS, or as the opposite effect of reinforcement management (reward).

[0056] FIG. 5 is a second flowchart showing the process of selecting a face image to be added to a message by message creation unit 117 in this embodiment. Here, the case is shown where the behavioral change stage of the target user is known, and the user's facial image is selected depending on the behavioral change stage and also depending on the response to the previous message, i.e., whether or not measures have been implemented.

[0057] In step S11, the message creation unit 117 determines whether the user's behavior change stage has reached the action stage. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S12, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S13.

[0058] In step S12, the message creating unit 117 selects an ideal face image as reinforcement management for maintaining the stage at or above the active stage, and attaches it to the message.

[0059] In step S13, message creating unit 117 selects an original image as a re-evaluation of itself and attaches it to the message in order to raise the stage.

[0060] In step S14, message creation unit 117 receives a response to the message created in step S12 or S13 and determines whether or not an OS update has been performed. If the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S15, and if the determination is NO, the process proceeds to step S16.

[0061] In step S15, the message creating unit 117 selects an ideal face image as reinforcement management (reward) for the OS update, and adds it to the message.

[0062] In step S16, the message creating unit 117 selects a non-ideal face image and attaches it to the message as a self-evaluation for not updating the OS or as a reverse effect of reinforcement management (reward).

[0063] In this example, a total of three facial images are prepared, one ideal facial image and one non-ideal facial image for each original facial image, but more ranked facial images may also be prepared. In this case, steps S11 to S13 may be modified so that a face image with a different rank is selected for each behavioral change stage, for example, the maintenance stage has the top ideal face image and the indifference stage has the bottom face image. Also, step S15 is modified so that a face image with a rank one step higher is selected, and step S16 is modified so that a face image with a rank one step lower is selected.

[0064] According to this embodiment, the information management server 10 attaches an image representing the user's own appearance (e.g., a facial image) to a message to encourage the implementation of security measures on the user terminal 20, and furthermore, this image is changed to a more ideal or less ideal image for the user depending on the response to past messages, i.e., an evaluation based on the implementation status of measures. Therefore, the information management server 10 can increase the rate at which users themselves implement security measures by stimulating users' awareness of the implementation of measures, and by using psychological effects such as self-reevaluation or strengthened management, and further by using a synergistic effect between this psychological effect and personalization of the text, UI design, timing, etc.

[0065] The information management server 10 selects and assigns to the message an image ranked higher or lower depending on whether or not a countermeasure was taken in the reply to the previous message, so that if the user takes a countermeasure, an ideally processed image is displayed from the next time onwards, and if the user does not take a countermeasure, an unideal image is displayed from the next time onwards. Because users aspire to an ideal face rather than their actual face, ideally edited images can serve as reinforcement management (reward). This not only encourages users to take measures, but also encourages continued implementation of measures. For users with a strong sense of ownership or who are conscious of their own faces, greater effects can be expected, as they are likely to aspire to an ideal face.

[0066] When the information management server 10 determines the behavioral change stage of the user, it selects an image ranked according to the behavioral change stage and assigns it to the message. When encouraging a user to take action (improving the stage), it is appropriate to use self-reevaluation as a psychological effect, and when encouraging a user to maintain an action (maintaining the stage), reinforcement management is appropriate. Therefore, the information management server 10 can appropriately utilize the user's psychological effect by displaying the original image when improving the stage (for example, when improving from the indifference stage to the preparation stage to the action stage), and by displaying an ideal image when maintaining the stage (for example, when continuing the action stage and the maintenance stage to the maintenance stage), thereby improving the implementation rate of security measures.

[0067] In addition to selecting an image according to the stage of behavioral change, the information management server 10 can also raise or lower the ranking of the image to be added to the next message depending on whether or not measures have been implemented, thereby expecting psychological effects from reinforcement management.

[0068] By using a face image (photograph) as an image representing the user's appearance, the information management server 10 can strongly evoke a sense of ownership (personal awareness), and an improvement in the implementation rate due to the psychological effect can be expected. Furthermore, instead of only face images, character images of the user's preference may be used, and an improvement in the implementation rate can be expected by appropriately using images that can produce an appropriate psychological effect for each user.

[0069] The information management server 10 may automatically process the acquired original images using a predetermined processing tool, etc., to create a group of processed images including ideal images and non-ideal images. This allows the information management server 10 to provide services with a consistent quality while reducing the workload on the user.

[0070] The information management server 10 distributes a questionnaire including items asking about the degree of interest in public self-consciousness, evaluates the answers, and adds a facial image of the user to the message only for users whose interest level is above a predetermined level. As a result, the information management server 10 can perform processing to add images only to users who can be expected to receive a psychological effect, thereby reducing the processing load.

[0071] Furthermore, this embodiment can, for example, improve the rate at which users themselves implement security measures, thereby contributing to Goal 9 of the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is to "Develop resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation."

[0072] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the effects described in the above-described embodiments are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments.

[0073] The message distribution method by the management system 1 is realized by software. When realized by software, the programs that make up this software are installed on an information processing device (computer). These programs may be recorded on removable media such as CD-ROMs and distributed to users, or may be distributed by being downloaded to the user's computer via a network. Furthermore, these programs may be provided to the user's computer as a web service via a network without being downloaded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 Management System 10 Information management server (message distribution device) 11 Control section 12 Storage section 20 User terminal 111 Distribution rule registration section 112 Image acquisition unit 113 Terminal information acquisition unit 114 Survey Distribution Department 115 Survey Results Acquisition Department 116 Stage Judgment Section 117 Message Creation Section 118 Message Delivery Department 119 Message Response Acquisition Unit 121 Terminal Distribution Conditions 122 Messages 123 Distribution Rules 124 Terminal distribution setting log 125 user images 126 Terminal Information Log 127 Survey Log 128 Message Delivery Log

Claims

1. an image acquisition unit that acquires, for each user, an original image representing the user's appearance, as well as a group of processed images that include one or more images that are superior to the original image and one or more images that are inferior to the original image, in order of rank; a terminal information acquisition unit that acquires terminal information including the implementation status of security measures in the user's terminal; a message creation unit that determines an item of security measure that has not been implemented based on the terminal information, and creates display data in response to a message requesting implementation of the item, to which one of the original image and the group of processed images is added; a message delivery unit that delivers the display data to the user's terminal; a message response acquisition unit that acquires a response to the distributed message, the response including whether or not the item has been implemented; The message creation unit selects an image from the original image and the group of processed images in a ranking according to an evaluation based on responses to past messages.

2. The message delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the message creation unit selects an image ranked higher or lower depending on whether or not the image was implemented in a reply to a previous message.

3. a questionnaire distribution unit that distributes a questionnaire including items asking about the implementation status or interest level of the security measures of the user; a survey result acquisition unit that acquires responses to the survey; a determination unit that determines a behavioral change stage of the user regarding security measures based on the answers to the questionnaire, the terminal information, and the answers to the past messages, The message delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the message creation unit selects an image from the original image and the group of processed images that is ranked according to the determined behavioral change stage.

4. The message delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image acquisition unit acquires a facial image of the user as the original image.

5. The message delivery device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the image acquisition unit processes the original image in accordance with a predetermined rule to create the group of processed images.

6. a questionnaire distribution unit that distributes a questionnaire including items asking about the user's level of interest in public self-consciousness; a survey result acquisition unit that acquires responses to the survey, The message delivery device described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the message creation unit adds one of the original image and the group of processed images to the message only for users who have a predetermined level of interest in public self-consciousness in their responses to the questionnaire.

7. an image acquisition step of acquiring, for each user, an original image representing the user's appearance, as well as a group of processed images including one or more images that are superior to the original image and one or more images that are inferior to the original image, in order of rank; a terminal information acquisition step of acquiring terminal information including the implementation status of security measures in the user's terminal; a message creation step of determining an item of security measure that has not been implemented based on the terminal information, and creating display data in response to a message requesting implementation of the item, to which any image from the original image and the group of processed images is added; a message delivery step of delivering the display data to the user's terminal; a message response acquisition step of acquiring a response including whether or not the item has been implemented in response to the distributed message, A message distribution method in which, in the message creation step, an image is selected from the original image and the group of processed images in a ranking according to evaluations based on responses to past messages.

8. A message distribution program for causing a computer to function as the message distribution device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images