From the BBC: How hackers exploit 'the seven deadly sins'

Cybercrooks exploit instincts which make us vulnerable

[buckworks]

From the BBC:

Viewpoint: How hackers exploit 'the seven deadly sins'

[bbc.co.uk...]

In the context of hacking, the deadly sins that get people into trouble are Apathy, Curiosity, Gullibility, Courtesy, Greed, Diffidence, and Thoughtlessness.

A colleague built a website that contained a button that said Do Not Press, and was astonished to find that the majority of people actually pressed it.

[lucy24]

Apathy, Curiosity, Gullibility, Courtesy, Greed, Diffidence, and Thoughtlessness

Uhmm.... Most things on that list are the exact opposite of something else on the same list. Did he leave anything out?

A colleague built a website that contained a button that said Do Not Press, and was astonished to find that the majority of people actually pressed it.

I think the colleague needs to get out more.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

It was research Lucy. ;)

I think that even though all of this is second nature to most of us, it is good advice.

[brotherhood of LAN]

A colleague built a website that contained a button that said Do Not Press, and was astonished to find that the majority of people actually pressed it.

I think the colleague needs to get out more.

hehe. I would categorise the users there as 'wishful thinkers'. Perhaps they thought that their browser/system would afford the necessary protections in order to 'click stuff on a web page'.

Unfortunately for users, it would seem a handbook of instructions is in order, including being wary about the potential security of the sites they visit, e.g. same password on different sites, site getting hijacked etc.

[lucy24]

My reaction was to the astonishment, not to the existence of the button.

There's a difference between "do not click here" on a web page and a big red Emergency Override button in some physical installation. Although even those may be accompanied by "break glass ..." with further instructions.* If they don't want people to click, what's the button doing on the site? Seems perilously close to Attractive Nuisance. (Your jurisdiction may have a different term.)

If we met something of the kind on a real www site we would probably head straight for View Source and see what's up. But that's us :)


* This is speaking as someone whose four-year-old once saw a bright red handle clearly labeled PULL.