Open Internet by MindsNet

Create Cryptographic Systems That Resist All Forms of Social Engineering

Cryptographic security can be undermined by social engineering attacks that trick users into revealing keys or bypassing security, yet creating cryptographic systems that remain secure despite social engineering remains extremely challenging. Current approaches focus on technical security but cannot prevent users from being manipulated into compromising security through non-technical means. The challenge requires developing cryptographic systems that maintain security even when users are tricked or coerced into taking actions that would normally compromise security, create user interfaces and procedures that naturally resist social engineering attempts, and ensure cryptographic security cannot be bypassed through psychological manipulation of legitimate users. Key barriers include protecting against human psychology rather than technical attacks, ensuring social engineering resistance doesn't make systems unusable, creating security that works despite user mistakes or manipulation, and coordinating social engineering resistance across multiple users and systems. Without social engineering resistance, cryptographic systems will remain vulnerable to attacks that target human psychology rather than technical weaknesses. Success would create cryptographic systems that remain secure regardless of social engineering attempts, eliminating human psychology as an attack vector against cryptographic security.

Mathematics & logic, Mathematics, Cryptography