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Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Cybercrime: Psychological Tricks and Computer Securities Challenges

Ntogwa N. Bundala

Asian Journal of Research in Computer Science · pp. 1–17 · Published 2 Dec 2024

10.9734/ajrcos/2024/v17i12525

Abstract

Several studies agree that traditional ways of preventing cybercrime, by applying common computer security techniques such as passwords, firewalls and anti-virus, are no longer effective tools/methods for preventing cybercrime. Moreover, the empirical studies evidence that the most effective cybercriminals’ technique is the phishing. Phishing is the cybercriminals means of entry or technique that devote both psychological and technical tricks to deceive the service users (individual or organizations) to become a victim of cybercrime. In that sense, the individual or organization (victim) became the enabler or catalyst of their own risk (cyberattack). The study established Psycho-Cybercrime Solution (PCS) algorithmic Model that detects psychological tricks in the phishing attack. The PCS model is the awareness and preventive model that provides the early warnings to the service users. The PCS model was tested in 40 e-mail messages, 20 from the author’s Gmail and 20 from Yahoo accounts and its results show the best fits. The study finds that the phishing attacks are psychologically and technically tricked. The common psychological tricks are fear, urgency, Authority, familiarity, curiosity, social proof, emotional appeal and trust, and the technical tricks are E-mail, Domain and DNS spoofing, URL manipulation and link shortening. Consequently, the study concluded that the phishing is the initiator or predecessor of other cybercrimes; it is a cybercriminal entry mean technique, which most cybercrimes start with phishing attacks. Hence the avoidance or prevention of phishing will consequently reduce the incidence of other cybercrimes. Therefore, we recommend the adaption of the PCS algorithmic model in cybercrime investigation and in community awareness campaign on cybersecurity issues. More specifics, cybersecurity stakeholders such as financial institutions, learning institutions, revenues authorities, communication service provider companies, healthcare centers, security organs, e.g., law enforcement organs and others to accommodate the PCS model their security strategy plans at their organizational levels. This will reduce the risks cyberattack and hence improve their organizational performance and customer trust.

Cybercrime computer security phishing cybersecurity psychological tricks

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