Human-Related Security Threats and Countermeasures of Electronic Banking and Identity Services - Polish Case Study

Abstract

The paper is a synthesis of findings on the financial sector’s cybersecurity analysis and e-identity management from the perspective of human-related vulnerabilities. Extensive desk research was conducted to gain a complete picture of the coexisting digital services and their relationship. Based on that, we defined challenges and synthesized our observations, identifying the most severe security risks associated with digital banking and identity services. Our study points out that human errors are the weakest link in the security chain. COVID-19 has accelerated the development of the digital revolution, thus forcing users to use digital services with greater commitment. The acceleration of digital transformation has not been indifferent to hackers, who have quickly adapted to the changing environment. Thus, the risk of exposing inexperienced users to cyberattacks has increased. Human-led attacks, based on naivety, emotion, and lack of relevant knowledge, have posed the most significant threat. Adversaries skillfully maneuver between the offline and online worlds by using fake IDs and sending fake emails. Only proactive countermeasures can stop attacks. Using our expertise, we identified best practices and defined recommendations for the issues discussed, which is our most significant contribution to this study.