Security News > 2021 > January > Cybercriminals use psychology--cybersecurity pros should, too
Isn't it time we stop getting psyched by the bad guys? Here are five steps cybersecurity pros can take now.
How human behavior impacts cybersecurity is a hot topic.
Brenda K. Wiederhold, president of the Virtual Reality Medical Center and a licensed clinical psychologist, writes in her research paper The Role of Psychology in Enhancing Cybersecurity: "Individuals are at a psychological disadvantage when faced with cybercrime. They are often not presented with sufficient information to make optimal decisions in privacy-sensitive situations."
Identify patterns of criminal and malicious activities: Wiederhold wants responsible parties to pay attention to behavior that might adversely affect cybersecurity.
Raise public awareness of cybersecurity risks: Wiederhold wants to get users involved-that is the only way to adjust their perception, and, subsequently, their behavior toward privacy.
For more about this topic, read these TechRepublic articles written by me: Social engineering: How psychology and employees can be part of the solution, 6 persuasion tactics used in social engineering attacks, and How understanding cognitive science can strengthen cybersecurity's weak links.