A Survey on Human Factors in Cyberspace: A New Dimension of Privacy Threats

Cyberspace is a collection of computer systems, networks, telecommunication networks, and embedded systems connected to communicate large volumes of digital data and information. All these components are essential to the makeup of cyberspace, especially the human element, in the form of end-users, professional experts, operators, and service providers. Among all these, the human element is at the core of cyberspace. Cybersecurity is all about protecting cyberspace. There are dozens of cybersecurity issues that fall under the technical domains of cyberspace. However, many issues directly stem from human factors, such as privacy issues, cybercrimes, human errors, and psychological aspects. This paper presents a survey of human factors issues in cyberspace, primarily focusing on psychological privacy breaches in social media platforms.

I. Introduction

Cyberspace is composed of digital devices connected via various networks. The scientific field of cyber security focuses on safeguarding computers and computing devices against unauthorized access or attacks [1]. The rational world created by the combination of computing and communication technologies has constantly been impacting the way of living. Users, Systems, and Usability are the three cornerstones of cyberspace [2]. The human factor is the weakest link, due to users’ clicking on malicious links or downloading corrupted files. Expert-level specialists in the technological field sometimes contribute to vulnerabilities by leaving gaps in software development, back doors, etc. Therefore, whether as a developer or an end user, the human aspect is a weak and essential link to cyberspace security, and its usability determines its weak point.Many research and development efforts have been made globally, and many technical solutions have been developed to tackle cyberattacks. These solutions include Intrusion Detection Systems, Firewalls, SIEM solutions, Antivirus, Anti-malware, and many more. However, there is a need for greater focus on the human factor aspect of cybersecurity, i.e., human is an asset in cyberspace; therefore, equally essential to provide protection and solutions which emerge from human factors cybersecurity issues.