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Brain Circuits
Do you know how to spot phishing attacks?
Last year saw a nearly 60% surge in phishing attacks. While systemic defenses against such threats offer valuable protection, they are not enough. Enhance your resistance to phishing by taking this short quiz.
Three cognitive biases affect us all. Do you know what they are?
Cognitive tunnelling
Is this:
(a) a mental process we use to detect threats;
(b) a one-track focus on the urgent task at hand; or
(c) thinking how you might escape having to do an unpleasant task?
Affective heuristics
Is this:
(a) calculating the impact a potential phishing attack may pose;
(b) making decisions based on emotions instead of facts; or
(c) mentally evaluating who you think is your most pretentious colleague?
Authority bias
Is this:
(a) the desire to marry your first-born to a doctor or lawyer;
(b) instinctively trusting someone perceived to be in a position of power; or
(c) disliking anyone who has authority over you?
The correct answer to each question is (b). How many did you get right?
How to avoid falling into ‘bias’ traps
Refocus attention to counter urgency tactics
Scams rely on urgency or fear to distract us from scrutinizing the situation. Shifting your focus onto cues that don’t add up helps you manage attention biases. Step away from your device for a few seconds (a minute or two is even better) and go through verification steps (verify sender details, hover over enclosed links). Focus on facts to manage cognitive overload.
Regulate emotional triggers
Phishing attacks target our emotions first, and when your response matches the intensity of the manipulation, your thinking becomes reactive and rigid. A better response is to use affect labelling – consciously naming your emotions to see them as transient data points. This helps you regain emotional control and respond in a mindful way.
Check credibility
Most scams make unusual (and urgent) requests. Consult credible sources before acting on them. Simply asking yourself, “Why does this feel different?” can trigger your awareness and nudge you to verify with trusted sources. This credibility checking helps combat blind faith in authority, and reduces anxiety and ambiguity.
Establish transparent communication channels
Transparent communication channels throughout the organization empower employees to challenge questionable instructions and voice concerns freely. A workplace culture that encourages questioning, verification, and collaborative problem-solving helps builds resilience.
Key learning
Cognitive biases are essential for daily decision-making and cannot be eliminated – but managing them is possible. Over time, cognitive resilience, supported by an enabling workplace and technology, can fortify organizations from the ground up and protect against phishing attacks.
Authors
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