Cybersecurity incidents have become more common in recent years. As technology advances, so does the sophistication of cyber attacks.
And while hackers and cybercriminals often get the blame, many of these incidents are caused by human error. People make mistakes that can leave their networks and systems vulnerable to attack.
With that being said, we decided to answer some of the questions on cyber attacks to give some ideas on what percentage of cyber attacks are caused by human error and ways to prevent these errors from happening.
What Percentage Of Cyber Attacks Are Caused By Human Error?
About 91.5% of cyber attacks are caused by human error according to the published data we find from Verizon Data Breaches Investigations Report, Stanford University, IBM, Varnois, Forbes, TechXplore, TheHackernews, Cybernews, Infosecurity-Magazine, ChiefExecutive.
The most common type of mistake is clicking on a malicious link or opening an infected attachment. Other mistakes include entering passwords into fake websites, leaving laptops unsecured in public places, and using the same password for multiple accounts.
Employees are often the weakest link in a company’s security chain, and it’s important to educate them about the dangers of cyber attacks and how to protect themselves from becoming victims.
On this page:
What is the biggest cause of cybersecurity incidents
One of the biggest causes of cybersecurity incidents is human error, as reported by Linkedin. Employees clicking on malicious links, opening infected emails, and not following security protocols are the leading sources of data breaches.
Organizations need to take a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity that includes employee training, system monitoring, and security software. By implementing these measures, businesses can reduce their risk of cyberattacks and protect their confidential data.
Are humans the biggest threat to cyber security?
Are humans the biggest threat to cyber security? It’s a question that has been debated for years, and the answer is pretty clear. Humans are a major contributing factor to cyber attacks. SANS Institute senior instructor Lance Spitzner analyzed Verizon’s latest Data Breach Incident Report (VZ DBIR) and found that your employees are your biggest security threat.
Here are some key points from Verizon’s report:
– 63% of confirmed data breaches involved weak, default, or stolen passwords.
– 94% of malware is delivered via email.
– 96% of phishing attacks arrive by email.
Which human error can create a threat to information security?
According to a calculation, around 91.5% of cyberattacks are caused by human error. Some of the most common human errors that can lead to cyberattacks include using weak passwords, carelessly handling sensitive data, using outdated or unauthorized software, and lacking knowledge of cybersecurity as reported by the eKransystem.
These errors are easily avoidable if people are more aware of the dangers and take precautions to protect their digital systems.
What are examples of human error in cyber security?
Human error is one of the leading causes of cyber attacks. Some of the most common examples of human error in cyber security include those reported by PhirendlyPhishing are sending personal information to the wrong recipient via email (45%), unintended release or publication of personal information (16%), and failure to use the ‘blind carbon copy (BCC) function when sending group emails.
How to prevent human error in cyber security
Cyber security is important for businesses of all sizes. As technology advances, so do the ways criminals can break into systems. Businesses need to be proactive and have a plan in place to prevent any type of data breach.
There are several measures businesses can take to prevent human error, which include:
- Training employees on cyber security best practices and expectations
- Implementing role-based access control to restrict user access to only the systems and data they need to do their jobs
- Requiring strong passwords and multi-factor authentication
- Encrypting all sensitive data
- Regularly backing up data
- Monitoring activity logs for suspicious behavior
- Educating employees about phishing scams and how to spot them
By taking these measures, businesses can greatly reduce the chances of a data breach. Cyber attacks can have serious financial and reputational consequences, so it’s important to do everything you can to prevent them.
Final words
Cybersecurity is a critical issue for businesses of all sizes. One of the biggest cybersecurity threats is human error, as employees are often the weakest link in the security chain. Companies must implement a multi-layered cybersecurity strategy that includes personnel training, system monitoring, and security software.
By implementing these measures, businesses can reduce their risk of cyberattacks and protect their confidential data.
We hope you found this post informative. Please contact us if you have any questions or would want to learn more about how we can assist you.
