The role of social engineering and human factors in cybersecurity defense

Abstract

This study looks into the complex interaction between social engineering methods and human elements in cybersecurity protection systems. The aim of the study was to conduct a literature-based analysis of how social engineering exploits human factors in cybersecurity and to evaluate existing defense strategies and frameworks. This study examines published literature to understand human vulnerabilities in cybersecurity, analyzes common social engineering tactics, and assesses defense mechanisms focused on human factors. It also identifies gaps in existing frameworks and contributes to the refinement of theoretical models for human-centric cybersecurity defenses. A systematic review of relevant research on social engineering and human factors was conducted- A thematic analysis was carried out to identify key social engineering tactics and recurring vulnerabilities. The analysis reveals that there is a need to carry out empirical investigation to verify the proposed theoretical framework and structures, with subsequent studies focusing on realworld implementation of these principles across various organizational contexts.