Paper Key : IRJ************916
Author: Anuja S. Phapale,Sumit Malwadkar,Prashant Patil,Ved Mehta,Om Jadhav
Date Published: 06 Apr 2025
Abstract
In contemporary cybersecurity landscapes, social engineering continues to represent a formidable challenge by targeting human behavioral patterns rather than technical systems. Contemporary attack methodologies including targeted phishing campaigns, business email compromise (BEC), and artificial intelligence-powered impersonation techniques have become increasingly refined, exploiting fundamental psychological principles such as authority recognition, fear responses, and innate curiosity to circumvent established security frameworks. This research examines the intersection between human cognitive processes and modern social engineering tactics, traces their technological evolution across multiple threat vectors, and evaluates protective approaches encompassing educational initiatives, technological safeguards, and institutional guidelines. Through comprehensive analysis of contemporary research and documented incidents between 2019-2023, we identify critical vulnerability points and propose an integrated defense framework designed to minimize successful exploitation rates. Our findings indicate that while security awareness programs and artificial intelligence detection systems demonstrate effectiveness, dynamic and anticipatory protection measures remain essential for addressing emerging threat vectors. Statistical analysis of 47 documented attacks reveals a 63% reduction in breach likelihood when organizations implement multi-layered defenses combining human-centered training with advanced technical controls. This investigation emphasizes the necessity for cross-disciplinary approaches that integrate psychological insights with cybersecurity expertise to effectively protect digital environments against increasingly sophisticated manipulation strategies.