Navigating Human Factors in Cybersecurity: How Behavioral Vulnerabilities Persist Despite Technical Safeguards

This study examines human behavioural vulnerabilities as the critical failure point in cybersecurity, demonstrating that technical safeguards alone cannot compensate for persistent human weaknesses. Through survey data collected from 149 participants across Indian universities and professional settings, the research investigates the relationship between security technology adoption and actual security outcomes. Despite widespread adoption of security technologies including biometrics (86.6%), multi-factor authentication (83.2%), and antivirus software (59.1%), 26.2% of participants experienced unauthorized access incidents. A striking knowledge-behaviour gap was identified: while 94.6% of participants acknowledged the importance of privacy, 70.2% regularly connected to public WiFi networks. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between technology adoption and reduced incidents, confirming that behavioural factors are the primary determinant of security outcomes. The study proposes evidence-based, human-centric mitigation strategies tailored to the Indian context, including behavioural interventions, targeted awareness training, and policy frameworks addressing cognitive biases. This research provides empirical quantification of human factors as the breaking point in cybersecurity defences within a developing nation context.