In Neumannova and Benroiders article “A Literature Review of Social Engineering Countermeasures: Temporality as a Harmonizing and Extending Factor” the reader is exposed to social engineering attacks, the practices that are taken to mitigate these actions and which ones work best. The study considers how temporality reconciliates the Social Engineering countermeasure concepts that are taken now. It also argues it “extends defense-in-depth thinking beyond static protection…to lifecycle-based perspective.” (2026)

For this research, systematic literature review was chosen as the method for a more constructed approach. Procedures by Okoli and Kitchenham were used. Wolfswinkels’ literature analysis using the grounded approach and Webster and Watsons “concept centric literature review” was also used. Along with these authors methods for literature analysis ideas from cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO/IEC were consulted. (Neumannova, Bernroider, 2026)

There are several social science concepts that come to mind when considering social engineering attacks. In the article relativism comes to mind as the authors describe the different ways social sciences fall into social engineering countermeasures. Examples being, educational training, behavior analytics, training and awareness. Cognitive theories are also considered when regarding SE attacks such as the neutralization theory, individuals know what they are doing and rationalize it as a good idea. Behavioral theories also have to do with SE attacks. Why do people use others people’s sense of urgency and fear monetary gain. This behavior could be learned from deviant peer association. (Neumannova, Bernroider, 2026)

Social engineering attacks heavily affect those facing socioeconomic disparity as the emails may entice users with economic gain. The people who also face these attacks may lose several hundreds or thousands of dollars that they may not be able to afford. It also heavily affects elderly individuals as they are more susceptible to these kinds of attacks. What this review lacks is the information that has not been published which cannot be studied by these codes.

            As the information is run through the 2 coders the two social engineering coders focus on the key countermeasure phrase. If we understand how to anticipate, cope and reflect on these attacks we are able to protect vital private information that several million people have compromised every year. With new countermeasure studies we are better able to understand how to mitigate these attacks and protect individuals and companies from identity theft and financial ruin.

Reference

Anita Neumannova, Edward W N Bernroider, A Literature Review of Social Engineering Countermeasures: Temporality as a Harmonizing and Extending Factor, Journal of Cybersecurity, Volume 12, Issue 1, 2026, tyag017, https://doi.org/10.1093/cybsec/tyag017