The Power of Training: Mitigating Human Cyber-Risk through Behavior Change

Phishing Human Cyber-Risk Can Be Demonstrably Mitigated by Behavior Changing Training: Analysis

Traditional security awareness training, which teaches users how to recognize social engineering, is evolving towards behavior-changing techniques that train individuals’ brains to automatically recognize and respond to phishing attacks. This shift reflects a growing acceptance that traditional methods of security awareness training have not been effective. The latest approach involves using neuroscience principles to shape automatic and correct user responses to phishing.

The Evolution of Security Awareness Training

Traditional security awareness training began with simple methods such as mouse pads and coffee mugs with slogans like “We can’t spell SECURITY without ‘U’.” However, this approach improved over time with the use of simulated phishing emails and automation through vendor products. The new approach goes beyond awareness and focuses on behavior changing, training the brain to automatically recognize and respond correctly to phishing attempts.

The Role of Behavior Changing in Mitigating Phishing Risks

Hoxhunt, a company specializing in user security, has conducted an analysis based on more than 15 million phishing simulations and real email attacks reported in 2022 by 1.6 million participants in a security behavior change program. The study found that behavior changing was particularly effective in critical industries. The Hoxhunt platform uses principles outlined by Stanford adjunct professor BJ Fogg’s “Tiny Habits” and delivers short, frequent, positive “nudges” through an AI platform to create personalized learning paths for individuals.

Neuroscience research shows that behavior changing can alter the synapses in the brain, leading to behavioral change. In the context of phishing, behavior changing training helps users develop recognition and automatic responses without relying on external cues. Instead of relying on memory and focus limitations, behavior changing training creates a type of “muscle memory” for the brain, making it second nature to recognize and report phishing attempts.

The Effectiveness of Behavior Changing in Critical Industries

The Hoxhunt analysis focused on critical industries and found that these industries outperformed the global average in real threat detection, with a success rate of 65.6% compared to the global average of 60%. The success rate in critical industries improved by 31% compared to the global average of 7%, and the failure rate was reduced by 65% compared to the global average of 13.2%. The only area where critical industries performed worse than the global average was in detecting spoofed internal organizational communications.

It is important to note that the success of behavior changing training in critical industries may be influenced by external factors such as increased regulation and geopolitical tensions. However, the overall positive impact of behavior changing in these industries is significant and demonstrates the potential for this approach to mitigate phishing risks.

Editorial: The Future of Cybersecurity Training

The shift towards behavior changing training in cybersecurity represents an important step in addressing the challenge of phishing attacks. Traditional methods of security awareness training have relied on teaching users to recognize social engineering tactics, but this approach has proven insufficient in mitigating the risks posed by increasingly sophisticated phishing attacks. By training the brain to automatically recognize and respond correctly to phishing attempts, behavior changing techniques offer a more effective solution.

The success of behavior changing training in critical industries is encouraging and highlights the potential for this approach to be effective in other sectors as well. However, it is important to acknowledge that behavior changing training should not be seen as a standalone solution. Other security measures such as strong password protocols, multi-factor authentication, and robust email filtering systems should also be implemented.

Internet Security Concerns

As behavior changing training relies on AI platforms and personalized learning paths, there are legitimate concerns about the security of user data. Companies offering behavior changing training programs must prioritize data privacy and ensure that user information is protected from potential security breaches or misuse. It is important for individuals to understand the security measures in place and to be cautious when providing personal information to training programs.

Advice for Individuals and Organizations

Given the evolving nature of cybersecurity threats, it is crucial for individuals and organizations to prioritize ongoing training and education. Traditional security awareness training should be supplemented with behavior changing techniques that train the brain to automatically recognize and respond correctly to phishing attempts.

When considering behavior changing training programs, individuals and organizations should prioritize those that prioritize data privacy and provide clear information about the security measures in place. It is essential to choose reputable providers that have a proven track record in the industry.

Additionally, while behavior changing training is effective, it should not be seen as a standalone solution. Implementing other security measures, such as strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and email filtering systems, is important for comprehensive protection against phishing attacks.