SOCIAL ENGINEERING ATTACKS: HUMAN FACTORS IN CYBER DEFENSE

Abstract

Social engineering attacks exploit the psychological vulnerabilities of individuals rather than relying solely on technical weaknesses. In the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, human behavior remains one of the most significant factors determining organizational resilience. This paper analyzes the psychological manipulation techniques used by attackers, explores the reasons behind human susceptibility, and identifies mitigation strategies through education, awareness, and behavioral analysis. The study highlights the critical need for integrating human factor defense mechanisms into cyber protection frameworks, emphasizing employee training, adaptive awareness programs, and multi-layered authentication systems. It also discusses real-world case studies where social engineering led to severe data breaches, demonstrating the pressing need for human-centered cybersecurity approaches.