On the anatomy of human hacking

Abstract

Human hacking is a nontechnical kind of intrusion that relies heavily on human manipulation. Its impact is continuously giving serious concern in the Information technology arena which has often been undermined due to the ease with which this technique is widely used to infiltrate networks through unsuspecting individuals that are undeniably considered the “weakest link” in the security circle. Security awareness that brings about behavioral change, reduces employees' vulnerability, and protects against threats exploiting employees' vulnerability having a positive impact overall on risks related to information assets. Strategies for developing and implementing a successful information security awareness program are presented in this article, which also provides an introduction to the subject of human hacking while discussing the various counter-measures available to minimize the likelihood of such occurrences and their financial, reputation, psychological, and legal ramifications.