Cognitive Biases and Vulnerabilities

Our brains use mental shortcuts (heuristics) to process information quickly, but these shortcuts create exploitable vulnerabilities:

Confirmation Bias: We tend to seek information confirming our existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence. Social engineers craft messages that align with targets' expectations, making them seem more credible.

Anchoring Bias: The first piece of information we receive disproportionately influences subsequent judgments. Attackers establish false premises early in conversations to shape victims' perceptions.

Availability Heuristic: We overestimate the likelihood of events we can easily recall. Social engineers reference recent news events or common fears to make their scenarios seem plausible.

Halo Effect: Positive impressions in one area influence our overall perception. Professional-looking emails or well-designed websites create an aura of legitimacy that extends to fraudulent requests.

Fundamental Attribution Error: We attribute others' behavior to their character rather than circumstances. This makes us less likely to question why someone might be asking unusual questions or making strange requests.