Phishing surge shows human element weakest link in cyber-defense

Although the key part of the term “cyber-security” is certainly the “cyber” portion, Kaspersky Lab’s David Emm argues that the human element of infosecurity is perhaps the most important.

Kaspersky has identified an alarming rise in phishing attacks this year, with an average of 3,000 users being attacked in this manner every day in the UK (up three times from 2011-2012). And that points to the fact that human nature is the weakest link in any cyber-defense, Emm said, speaking at the Royal Holloway University during Kaspersky’s Cyber Security for the Next Generation conference in London.

Examining how criminals target individuals with well-crafted messaging is one aspect of the issue; taking into account how people interact in today’s online world is another.

SOURCE: infosecurity-us.com