Page 104 - Cyber Defense eMagazine June 2024

Cause: It was caused by moderate employee data security measures, including the security of the data
stored on laptops and mobile devices.

Learnings: NASA later investigated the incident and improved employee data security by adequately
encrypting devices, including encryption measures for confidential information stored on devices.

Types of Human Error in Cybersecurity

According to an IBM Threat Intelligence survey, human error contributes to 95% of cyberattacks. Learning
the types of human error in cybersecurity can help avoid them by looking for their symptoms of existence.
Several factors lead to human errors in cyber security; these are as follows:

Password Concerns

A password is a crucial credential that is highly confidential and sensitive to disclose, as it has access to
personal data. One of the most significant human errors in cybersecurity is using weak passwords and
sharing and reusing passwords with unassociated people.
With 30% of internet users experiencing a data breach due to a weak password and 13% of Americans
using the same password for every account, organizations should have strict credentials policies and
technical awareness among employees. This will minimize the chances of human errors caused by
password concerns.

Improper handling of Data

When data is not managed correctly, the risk of data spillage increases. Inaccurate, duplicate, and
outdated data can lead to misinformed decisions, thus executing wrong choices and leaving scope for
human errors.

For example, accidentally emailing the wrong recipient due to the inaccurate recipient data provided can
lead to massive havoc of data leaks. Hence, improper data handling can result in data spillage.
Organizations should have an effective data management system for smooth and safe operations.

Software Concerns

Software concerns can occur due to outdated software consumption and unauthorized software usage
by employees and staff. Obsolete software is more likely to be breached, eventually leading to data
spillage.

Software vulnerabilities, improper configuration, and a lack of employee expertise in using software
applications are a few human errors that can lead to data spillage.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – June 2024 Edition 104
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