Cybersecurity incidents often bring to mind images of hackers exploiting complex technical technological vulnerabilities. But in reality, many successful cyber attacks don’t happen because of weak systems, they happen because of human errors.

According to the Verizon 2024 Data Breach Investigations Report, 68% of cyber incidents involve human error, whether it’s clicking on a phishing link, using a weak password, or misconfiguring cloud settings. The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) reported that 60% of data breaches in the UK were due to insider action, either accidental or intentional.

Globally, businesses are feeling the impact:

• 50% of businesses and 32% of charities reported experiencing a cyberattack in the last 12 months

• 84% of attacks involved phishing, making email the most exploited tool

• 17% of businesses fell victim to ransomware or malware attacks

Also read: Understanding Malware Threats ;  Think Before You Click! How to Spot Phishing Scams and Protect Your Data

While technology plays a role in cybersecurity, it’s human behavior that often determines whether an attack succeeds or fails. But why are we so vulnerable?

Why Are We Prone to Cyber Attacks?

When discussing cybersecurity, the focus is often on firewalls, encryption, and advanced threat detection systems. While these tools are essential, they are not the primary reason cyberattacks succeed. The truth is, most attacks don’t require hackers to crack sophisticated defenses, they simply need to trick a person into opening the door for them.

Cybercriminals don’t just target systems, they target people. And they are incredibly skilled at it.

Unlike machines, humans are emotional, social, and instinct-driven. We trust easily, seek efficiency, and are wired to respond to authority and urgency. These are natural tendencies that help us function in everyday life but can also create security gaps that attackers are ready to exploit.

Think about it:

• How many times have you heard someone clicking on an urgent-looking email without double-checking the sender?

• Have you ever reused a password across multiple accounts for convenience?

• Have you ever shared sensitive information with a colleague via email or chat without encrypting it?

These actions seem harmless but are exactly what cybercriminals rely on to bypass security measures and gain access to confidential information. Attackers don’t need to brute-force their way into a system when they can simply convince someone to let them in, and this is where human nature becomes a huge vulnerability.

So, what exactly are the traits that make us so prone to cyber threats? Let’s break it down:

1. Inherent Trust in Others 

People tend to have that natural instinct to believe emails or requests, especially if they come from figures of authority, like their CEO or IT team, making Business Email Compromise (BEC) a powerful attack method. 

2. Lack of Awareness 

Many employees are not given the right training to recognize cybersecurity threats, or if training does exist, it is often dry, outdated, and treated as a mere compliance requirement rather than a crucial part of workplace security.

Traditional cybersecurity awareness programs tend to focus on technical jargon rather than real-world scenarios, making them ineffective in changing behavior. Without engaging and practical training, employees may not fully understand the tactics cybercriminals use, leaving them unprepared to recognize and respond to threats in their daily work.

3. Emotional Triggers 

Scammers manipulate emotions like fear (fake threats), urgency (immediate action required), or curiosity (clickbait links) to push people into making hasty decisions.

4. Cognitive Overload 

Employees juggle hundreds of emails, notifications, and tasks daily, making it easier for them  to overlook red flags in a phishing attack attempt.

5. Overconfidence 

Many people assume they wouldn’t fall for a scam, believing that they can easily spot scam attempts. This often leads them to underestimate the importance of basic cybersecurity measures. As a result, they may neglect simple but critical protections, such as enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), using unique and strong passwords, or being cautious about the links they click and the information they share. 

Cyber Threats That Target Human Errors

Here are some of the most common cyber threats that usually succeed because of human behavior:

1. Phishing and Spear Phishing 

Attackers send fake emails, links to fake websites, fake text messages, that appear to come from trusted sources, tricking people into giving away credentials or installing malware. Spear phishing takes it a step further by targeting individuals with highly personalized messages.

Also read: Think Before You Click! How to Spot Phishing Scams and Protect Your Data

2. Business Email Compromise (BEC) 

Cybercriminals impersonate executives, suppliers, or partners to trick employees into making payments or sharing sensitive data. Using lookalike emails and urgent language, they exploit trust. Strong email authentication, verification protocols, and employee training are key to preventing these attacks.

3. Deepfake Attacks

Cybercriminals use AI-generated voices and videos to impersonate trusted figures, making scams more convincing and harder to detect. These attacks exploit trust and urgency, deceiving victims into sharing sensitive information or approving fake transactions. As deepfake technology evolves, organizations must enhance verification protocols and employee awareness to mitigate risks.

Also read: From Fiction to Reality: How Deepfakes Are Changing Our World

4. Weak Passwords and Credential Theft 

Many people reuse weak passwords across multiple accounts, making it easy for hackers to break in. Weak or repeated passwords remain a major security risk. Cybercriminals often try stolen passwords on other platforms, hoping users have reused them. Using strong, unique passwords and enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) significantly strengthens security.

Also read: Stop Making These Common Password Mistakes

5. Misconfiguration and Data Exposure 

IT administrators and employees misconfigured cloud storage or databases, leaving sensitive data accessible to hackers. Alert Logic reported that 82% of cloud misconfigurations stem from human error.

6. Social Engineering Tactics 

Attackers exploit the psychological aspects of humans, such as:

• Curiosity Effect: A message that hints at clickbait or confidential information to lure a victim into clicking a malicious link.

• Authority Bias: An email appears to come from a senior executive, instructing an employee to check a link or approve a financial transaction.

• Loss Aversion: A fake notification warns that an account will be deleted unless immediate action is taken.

Also read: Stay Safe: An Employee’s Guide to Avoiding Phishing Attacks

These attacks succeed not because people are careless or incompetent, but because hackers are highly skilled at manipulating human psychology.

How Do We Fix This?

It’s easy to assume that cybersecurity failures are due to carelessness or ignorance of humans, but the reality is far more complex. For example, employees don’t wake up intending to make a security mistake. Most of the time, they are simply trying to do their jobs efficiently in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. Many cybercriminals understand this and design their attacks to blend into the daily flows, making them harder to detect, such as: A convincing email from "HR" about an urgent payroll update, a seemingly routine request from a manager for sensitive documents, or an unexpected login alert from a trusted service. These are all examples of social engineering tactics that manipulate human behavior to bypass security measures.

Organizations must shift their focus toward building a culture of security awareness, equipping employees with the right tools, and reinforcing cybersecurity as a shared responsibility.

So, how can organizations strengthen their defenses and reduce human-driven cybersecurity risks? 

• Cybersecurity Awareness Training 

If employees are unaware of the tactics used against them, companies cannot fully avoid cyber attacks. Engaging, real-life scenario-based training helps employees instinctively recognize and avoid threats, reducing the likelihood of falling victim to social engineering, phishing, or credential theft. 

• Phishing Simulations 

Testing employees with simulated phishing tactics will allow them to develop stronger cyber threat detection skills.

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

Even if credentials are stolen, MFA can prevent unauthorized access. This is also important to highlight during employee cybersecurity training.

• Limit Access 

Limiting data access to only those who truly need it reduces insider threats and accidental breaches.

• Continuous Threat Monitoring 

Cybersecurity is not a one-time fix, it requires constant vigilance to detect and respond to threats before they cause harm. Without proactive monitoring and expert-led security measures, organizations remain vulnerable to evolving cyber risks. One of the most effective ways to achieve 24/7 protection is through a Security Operations Center (SOC), which provides continuous threat detection, incident response, and real-time security analysis to safeguard your business from cyber threats.

Also read: Staying Ahead of Threats with 24/7 SOC Proactive Monitoring

Strengthening Security Through Expertise

Cybersecurity is about people and technology working together. While human error is a factor, the right training, awareness, and security measures can significantly reduce risks.

At Cisometric, we provide next-generation cybersecurity solutions designed to:

• Train and empower employees with hands-on cybersecurity education

• Monitor and detect threats in real time with our SOC capabilities

• Mitigate human-driven risks through advanced security protocols

Attackers rely on human mistakes, but organizations that invest in human expertise have the best defense. Instead of being the weakest link, people can become an organization’s strongest cybersecurity asset.

Protect your business before a cyber incident happens. Schedule a meeting with our team to discuss how Cisometric can help fortify your organization’s defenses with tailored cybersecurity strategies. Contact us today, click here.