The Role of Social Engineering in Modern Cybersecurity: A Human-Centric Threat Analysis

This research paper examines the rising importance of social engineering in the cybersecurity landscape, focusing on how attackers exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. While much research emphasizes system-level defenses, this paper highlights the overlooked human factor in security breaches. Drawing upon recent studies and reports such as the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) and the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), findings reveal that over 90% of breaches involve social engineering tactics, particularly phishing. The paper reviews relevant literature, outlines common attack patterns, and discusses prevention strategies centered on human awareness and resilience. By bridging the gap between technical defenses and human vulnerabilities, this research contributes to a holistic understanding of modern cyber threats.