Cybersecurity’s Most Hackable Vulnerability – Human Behavior

In the cybersecurity space and across the business landscape, we know social engineering is a problem. We know it’s effective, and we know why – unlike technology, which changes on a daily basis, human behavior hasn’t significantly changed in centuries. In fact, the term social engineering was first used by Dutch industrialist J.C. Van Markin in 1894. Because our behavior hasn’t changed, it’s easy for adversaries to take advantage. There’s a low barrier to entry as these tactics are generally inexpensive and simple to execute. It begs the question: can we overcome these online scams?

The Predictability of Human Behavior

Social engineering’s ubiquity has desensitized us to the severe consequences these unsophisticated tactics can cause. How often do we hear from a friend whose social media account was hacked, asking us not to click a link they’ve sent our way? How often do we get suspicious emails with typos and errors and immediately hit delete? It’s easy to dismiss these actions as a byproduct of our world, but by doing so, we lower our guard to social engineering scams that can be far more damaging.

Humans are creatures of habit. We find comfort in familiarity and routine. From using the same password across multiple platforms for convenience to trusting a well-worded email because it "seems" official, our predictable behaviors have always been easy to exploit. We're susceptible to urgency, fear, trust, and authority – elements that social engineers manipulate to their advantage.

Social Engineering Has Serious Implications

Social engineering scams can have devastating consequences for individuals and organizations. Financially, victims may suffer from immediate monetary losses or unauthorized transactions. At an organizational level, there can be unauthorized access to confidential data, which may lead to intellectual property theft, business espionage, or massive data breaches affecting thousands, if not millions, of customers. The latter can result in hefty regulatory fines and legal actions.

Reputational damage is another significant consequence, which can lead to loss of business, dwindling customer trust, and a decline in stock values for publicly traded companies. For individuals, personal information obtained through social engineering can lead to identity theft, credit fraud, and other personal security breaches. The recovery process can be lengthy, stressful, and costly. In extreme cases, especially when critical infrastructure is involved, social engineering can even pose threats to national security. It’s unlikely we can ever completely eradicate scams, but we can take holistic actions that create a culture of security and reduce the risks of falling victim to social engineering tactics.

How Organizations Should Address Social Engineering

To safeguard their data and systems, organizations must prioritize employee education and training. Regular workshops should be conducted that not only teach employees about the importance of strong, unique passphrases but also provide insights into the latest social engineering tactics. Mock phishing tests, where employees receive fake phishing emails and are educated upon clicking, can also be effective.

Incorporating multi-factor authentication (MFA) provides an additional layer of security. Even if a cybercriminal obtains user credentials, without the second form of authentication, the data remains secure.

Organizations should also maintain an updated and patched IT environment. While this doesn't directly counteract social engineering, it reduces the number of vulnerabilities available to malicious actors once they gain initial access.

It’s important to note that organizations should not only take a top-down approach to security awareness. While top-down policies are essential, they are insufficient on their own. A comprehensive approach to combating social engineering should involve every level of an organization and address the challenge both technologically and psychologically.

1. Arm Employees with Training : Training should be conducted regularly and should cover common and emerging tactics such as phishing, baiting, tailgating, pretexting, business email compromise, smishing, etc. After training, take feedback from employees. Understanding their concerns and questions will help refine the training process.

2. Create a Culture of Security : Encourage employees to report suspicious activities or potential threats. Consider establishing a reward system for those who help identify potential threats. Also, ensure you have a culture of open communication. Employees should feel comfortable reporting their mistakes without the fear of retribution. Mistakes should be viewed as learning opportunities.

3. Engage All Levels : It’s not enough for only the IT department or top management to be aware of the risks. All departments and all levels, from HR to marketing, from interns to executives, should be involved in the awareness campaigns. Of course, different departments may have different risk exposures. Customize the training sessions according to the unique risks faced by each department.

4. Collaborate to Boost Efficacy : As organizations grow, natural silos develop. It’s critical to break down data, tech, and team barriers to effectively address threats. Consider working with trusted businesses in your industry, sharing knowledge about the latest threats and best practices.

Trusted Intelligence Sharing & Collective Defense

No organization is an island in the cyber landscape. Cyber threats evolve rapidly, with attackers sharing tools, tactics, and intelligence. To stay ahead, organizations need to reciprocate this collaborative spirit.

Sharing threat intelligence amongst trusted partners and organizations – often referred to as collective defense – can help in identifying new tactics adversaries employ faster than working alone. Not only does this collaborative approach provide better situational awareness, but it also builds a resilient ecosystem. An attack on one organization can provide defense insights for another. Trusted intelligence sharing helps in building a proactive defense, moving from a stance of isolated vulnerability to collective strength.

Hacking Human Behavior (for Good)

Social engineering thrives on our predictability and the cognitive shortcuts we take in our daily lives. The essence of defending against these tactics lies in understanding human behavior, continuous education, and leveraging the strength of a unified security program. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the human factor remains both our biggest weakness and our greatest strength. Recognizing this duality is a great step toward a safer cyber landscape.