Human security in the cyber environment: Risks and key protection issues

Breakthroughs in digital innovation, including artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, have opened numerous opportunities across various aspects of human life. However, these technological developments also entail significant risks, such as the collection of personal data, influence over individual thoughts, behaviors, and lifestyles, alongside constraints on individual liberties. Such dynamics facilitate the emergence of "digital enslavement," wherein human safety in cyberspace is compromised through mechanisms of surveillance, exploitation, and rights suppression. Furthermore, the complete control and automation of human life and social interactions via AI and interconnected devices could lead to highly detrimental outcomes. Given these developments, the ”TSATS” DOI: https://doi.org/10.65902/tsats.2026.01.002 Vol. 25 No 55 (2026) 34 KEYWORDS: Digital environment, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), personal data, surveillance, manipulation, algorithm issue of human security in digital environments has transcended a purely technological domain, becoming a complex, multidisciplinary challenge that demands coordinated efforts from…

Digital environment, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), personal data, surveillance, manipulation, algorithm issue of human security in digital environments has transcended a purely technological domain, becoming a complex, multidisciplinary challenge that demands coordinated efforts from social, economic, psychological, legal, and educational sectors. Ensuring the security and reliability of cyberspace necessitates collaborative efforts among governments, technology firms, civil society, and individuals. I. INTRODUCTION Today, human daily life and social relations are directly dependent on technology, and the cyber environment has become an integral part of human life. As cyberspace expands1, It has become difficult to maintain human dignity, freedom, and social status, and it has brought with it a variety of “risks.” The issue of human security in the cyber environment is a set of measures, principles, practices, and technological policies to “protect2” individuals and their information assets, reputation, and emotional state in the digital space3. Some aspects of human security in the cyber environment, its risks, and protection. Human safety in the cyber environment is a comprehensive concept that encompasses ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of individuals in digital environments, including the Internet, as well as the responsible use of technology. Protecting oneself from the excessive use of technology and its direct and indirect dependence is a crucial aspect of electronic environment security. This problem evolves with the development of technology and requires the joint efforts and policies of individuals, organizations, and governments. Therefore, ensuring human security in the cyber environment is not only a technical solution, but also an important issue of social relations that requires multi- faceted joint measures such as education, psychology, awareness, knowledge, and legal regulation. In today's digital era, the risks to human security in the cyber environment are increasing day by day, and their harm is increasing, and they are becoming more complex and integrated. Here are the most common risks: ✓ Risks related to loss of personal information. Organizations and companies are exposed to the unauthorized collection of user data from big data, application platforms, 1 About cyber security. Law of Mongolia. December 17, 2021. 4.1.2. Clause in "Cyberspace" means the physical and non-physical domain consisting of the Internet and other information and communication networks and the interdependent complex of information infrastructures that support their operation. 2 “Dictionary of Communication and Information Technology Terms". SHUTIS, ХМТГ, Universal Duty Fund, MUIS, UB., 2021 3 National baseline survey report on children's online safety. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. EMMC LLC.07.09.2020. ”TSATS” DOI: https://doi.org/10.65902/tsats.2026.01.002 Vol. 25 No 55 (2026) 34 and applications in the cyber environment, loss of data integrity, misuse of data, theft of "biometric information4" and theft of personal values. ✓ Risks from cyber-attacks. These include software attacks such as electronic device viruses5, malware6, ransomware7, and backdoor attacks8, and network attacks such as DDoS attacks, network espionage, and man-in-the-middle attacks9. ✓ Risk of social engineering. In addition to fraud-related attacks, such as phishing and business email scams, designed to trick users into disclosing their personal information, and social manipulation tactics like trust fraud, blackmail, and phishing, there are also other forms of social manipulation. ✓ Social media risk. Cyberbullying includes social relational risks such as discrimination, defamation, and doxing, and psychological risks such as cyber addiction, psychological distress, and negative content effects. ✓ Risks related to fake information and content. It includes risks related to the quality of information, such as fake news10, misinformation11, and disinformation12, and risks related to artificial intelligence technologies, such as fake content created by artificial intelligence, fake profiles, fake images, photos, audio, and video. ✓ Risks faced by children and adolescents. These include child safety risks such as cyber-grooming13exposure to pornographic and illegal content, disclosure of personal information, and social development risks such as online bullying, excessive screen dependence, and the negative effects of social media. ✓ Financial risk. It consists of e-fraud and fraud risks such as online shopping fraud, investment fraud and online gaming fraud, and settlement risks such as payment card fraud, online banking fraud, and third-party payment fraud. ✓ Risks related to surveillance in the cyber environment. Risks related to surveillance and espionage, such as big data collection, Internet monitoring, and 4 About the protection of personal information. Law of Mongolia. December 17, 2021. Clause 4.1.1: non- overlapping physical data related to a person's body, such as fingerprints, iris, face, voice, and body movement characteristics that can be used to identify a person with the help of equipment, hardware, or software. 5 See reference4. Viruses (self-replicating code and attacks that infect files by attaching themselves to clean files and spreading throughout the computer system); 6 See reference4. Malware (malware is usually an easy money-making and political cyber-attack); 7 See reference4. Ransomware (an attack aimed at extorting money from the user by extracting the user's files and data); 8 See reference4. Back door (An attack in which an attacker uses a vulnerability in the network to access the necessary information to damage the server and other things through its users). 9 See reference4. Man-in-the-Middle (a Cyber attack in which a cybercriminal infiltrates the communication between two users and steals information); 10 See reference4. False news (deliberately disseminating completely false information about the relevant subjects and people in the form of official news and information by means of brainwashing or with abstract evidence for the purpose of misleading, concealing the truth, or creating a scandal); 11 See reference4. Misinformation (the process of using true information for other purposes and leading to incorrect conclusions. In some cases, the failure of information integrity is caused by a misunderstanding without a clear intention or purpose. 12 See reference4. Disinformation is false or misleading information deliberately spread to deceive people, or to secure economic or political gain and which may cause public harm. 13 See reference 4. Cyber grooming is the process of ‘befriending’ a young person online to facilitate online sexual contact and/or a physical meeting with them to commit sexual abuse.