Cybercrime/Cybersecurity Training Has Failed!

A commentary on the state of cybercrime/cybersecurity training and helping victims avoid scams/fraud/cybercrime.

By Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Cybercrime/Cybersecurity training does not work?

Cybercrime training, also known as cybersecurity training, is a form of education that aims to teach individuals and organizations how to protect themselves against cyberattacks and other forms of online threats. But it mostly has failed.

These training programs can take various forms, including in-person classes, online courses, videos, and simulated exercises, and are often designed to teach people about topics such as password security, phishing scams, data protection, and scams (financial fraud).

Despite the widespread availability of cybercrime training, it is becoming increasingly clear to those that help the victims to pick up the pieces afterward, that these programs are not very effective at preventing cyber attacks. There are several reasons for this.

First, cybercrime training often relies on lectures and theoretical explanations of how to protect oneself online. While these types of presentations (in whatever form) can be useful for providing a general understanding of cybersecurity concepts, they are not always effective at helping people internalize and apply these concepts in real-world situations. In many cases, people may forget or overlook the information they have learned, or they may not be able to apply it when faced with a real-world cyber threat.

Second, cybercrime training often focuses on teaching people to recognize and avoid specific types of threats, such as phishing scams or malware attacks. However, cybercriminals are constantly adapting and evolving their tactics, making it difficult for people to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and how to defend against them. As a result, even if people have received cybersecurity training, they may still be vulnerable to new types of attacks that they have not learned about.

Third, cybercrime training often fails to take into account the fact that human behavior is the major factor in the success of cyber attacks. Cybercriminals often rely on exploiting human weaknesses & vulnerabilities, biases, and psychology, such as our tendency to click on links or open attachments without verifying their authenticity. While cybersecurity training may teach people to be cautious and to verify the source of a link or attachment before interacting with it, it is difficult to change deeply ingrained habits and behaviors. As a result, people continue to engage in risky behavior even after receiving cybersecurity training.

Finally, cybercrime training is often time-consuming, which can be a barrier for many organizations and individuals. Potential target actually resent (in many cases) having to take training that they firmly believe will never happen to them – because they know better. Also, not everyone knows that they have access to this type of education, which can create an uneven playing field where some people and organizations are more vulnerable to cyber attacks than others.

While cybercrime training can be a useful tool for helping people and organizations protect themselves against online threats, it is clear from the simple facts that these crimes are growing uncontrollably that it is not effective. Cybercriminals are constantly adapting and evolving their tactics, and human behavior is the major factor in the success of cyber attacks.

To truly protect ourselves against cyber threats, we need to take a more holistic approach that includes not just training, but also ongoing education, robust security systems, and a culture of security within organizations that focuses not on knowledge, but on behavioral changes.

However, we also have to be honest about our failures. Training is important, but as an organization that helps after the fact, SCARS knows that mitigation and recovery training – something that is virtually never taught is just as important – maybe more for organizations to perform.

If you are an organization that is dissatisfied with your current training models, contact SCARS – we understand the victims and as such, what failed and why!

If you are an individual victim of a cybercrime/scam/online financial fraud please contact us, we can help! We also offer free support programs for scam victims here: support.AgainstScams.org

PLEASE NOTE: Psychology Clarification

The following specific modalities within the practice of psychology are restricted to psychologists appropriately trained in the use of such modalities:

  • Diagnosis: The diagnosis of mental, emotional, or brain disorders and related behaviors.
  • Psychoanalysis: Psychoanalysis is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals to understand and resolve unconscious conflicts.
  • Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a state of trance in which individuals are more susceptible to suggestion. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, and pain.
  • Biofeedback: Biofeedback is a type of therapy that teaches individuals to control their bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. It can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including stress, anxiety, and pain.
  • Behavioral analysis: Behavioral analysis is a type of therapy that focuses on changing individuals’ behaviors. It is often used to treat conditions such as autism and ADHD.
    Neuropsychology: Neuropsychology is a type of psychology that focuses on the relationship between the brain and behavior. It is often used to assess and treat cognitive impairments caused by brain injuries or diseases.

SCARS and the members of the SCARS Team do not engage in any of the above modalities in relationship to scam victims. SCARS is not a mental healthcare provider and recognizes the importance of professionalism and separation between its work and that of the licensed practice of psychology.

SCARS is an educational provider of generalized self-help information that individuals can use for their own benefit to achieve their own goals related to emotional trauma. SCARS recommends that all scam victims see professional counselors or therapists to help them determine the suitability of any specific information or practices that may help them.

SCARS cannot diagnose or treat any individuals, nor can it state the effectiveness of any educational information that it may provide, regardless of its experience in interacting with traumatized scam victims over time. All information that SCARS provides is purely for general educational purposes to help scam victims become aware of and better understand the topics and to be able to dialog with their counselors or therapists.

It is important that all readers understand these distinctions and that they apply the information that SCARS may publish at their own risk, and should do so only after consulting a licensed psychologist or mental healthcare provider.

Opinions

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. The author is solely responsible for the content of their work. SCARS is protected under the Communications Decency Act (CDA) section 230 from liability.

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