Henry Collier¹ and Alexandra Collier², ¹Norwich University, USA and ²Southern New Hampshire University, USA

Current practices to defend networks against threats involve hardening systems by limiting points of ingress into the system. The most common method of limiting ingress into a system is by limiting which ports are allowed through the firewall. Port limitation as a method of defense is normally effective. Ports in a firewall range from 0 through 65,535 and covers the technical aspects of information security. One method of ingress not covered by technical ports is the human port, coined “port Z3r0” for this paper. To better defend against port Z3r0, we must understand the human better and why they are susceptible. This paper explores the basic human behaviors related to susceptibility and identifies the classifications of traits that increase a person’s susceptibility level. Additionally, this paper will address the issue of how the current model of teaching end-users to defend themselves is lacking and needs to be improved.

Information Security, Non-Malicious Insider Threat, Susceptibility, Human Behaviors, Cognition