Ransomware Victimization: Do personality types matter?

In today’s digital age, ransomware attacks have become a growing threat for businesses and individuals alike. These cyberattacks can be devastating, encrypting critical data and demanding a ransom payment for its return. Cyber attackers utilize social engineering techniques to spread ransomware. They use tactics such as distributing malicious files via websites or phishing emails, and also make use of psychological techniques to manipulate victims into paying the ransom. The more personalized an attack is, the higher the likelihood that it will be successful, as Security magazine mentions. Thus, attackers leverage social media platforms to obtain sensitive information which they use to launch targeted attacks. As a result, understanding the psychology behind these attacks can be key to both preventing them and mitigating their impact.

Personality types

Numerous studies have been conducted to see if certain personality traits make individuals more vulnerable to becoming victims of ransomware. One such study, Personality Types and Ransomware Victimization (Yilmaz et al., 2023)[1] explored the connection between the “Big-Five Personality Traits” (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness) and ransomware victimization. The findings of the study showed that no specific personality traits could explain the majority of victimization. While a small number of victims paid the ransom, most of them claimed that they would use cyber security tools like recovery methods, preventive methods, and backup frequency. Additionally, the victims lost trust in online services such as online banking and online shopping. The study also revealed that the victims experienced negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, distress, and fear, and some even felt paranoia, depression, isolation, and sleeplessness. This indicates that ransomware not only has technical impacts but also social and psychological ones, as the recovery process from should focus not only on remediation but also reducing the unpleasant psychological effects and minimizing future victimization.

Personal Factors

While specific personality traits don’t directly lead to ransomware victimization, certain characteristics and behaviors can increase the risk:

• Lack of Caution: Individuals who are not cautious about opening emails, clicking on links, or downloading attachments are more susceptible to phishing attacks that spread ransomware.
• Overconfidence: Overconfidence in one’s ability to recognize threats may lead to risky behaviors, like ignoring security warnings or bypassing security protocols.
• Complacency: A lack of concern or awareness about cybersecurity risks can make individuals more likely to engage in risky behavior, leading to ransomware exposure.
• Curiosity: Curiosity-driven behaviors, such as opening unexpected emails or exploring unknown websites, can increase the risk of encountering ransomware.

Organizational Factors

• Outdated Software and Systems: Organizations that don’t keep their software, operating systems, and security tools updated are more vulnerable to exploitation by ransomware.
• Lack of Security Measures: Weak security controls, such as insufficient firewalls, lack of endpoint protection, and inadequate network segmentation, can increase vulnerability to ransomware.
• Insufficient Backups: Organizations without reliable and regularly tested backups are more likely to suffer from ransomware’s impacts, making them more likely to pay the ransom.
• Poor Cybersecurity Awareness: Employees and stakeholders who are not trained in cybersecurity best practices are more prone to falling victim to phishing and social engineering tactics that often precede ransomware attacks.
• Third-party Risks: Organizations that rely on third-party vendors and partners with weak security practices are at higher risk of ransomware incidents through supply chain attacks.

To sum up

Ransomware victimization is typically driven by a combination of organizational vulnerabilities and personal behaviors. While personality traits can influence individual susceptibility, it’s the broader security culture and organizational practices that play a more significant role. Individuals should be cautious, follow security best practices and report suspicious activities to mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks. Organizations must adopt robust security practices, regularly update their systems, train their employees in cybersecurity awareness and maintain strong incident response plans, leveraging the support of leading Managed Service Providers like Neurosoft, to effectively reduce enterprise risk and emerge stronger and more resilient in the face of a ransomware attack.

[1] Yilmaz et al., (2023). Personality Types and Ransomware Victimization. Digital Threats: Research and Practice, 4(53).