Sometimes, our best intentions end up creating the very problem we’re trying to solve. Economists call this the Cobra Effect, a lesson that’s surprisingly relevant in today’s cybersecurity awareness programs.
The Original Cobra Effect Story
During British rule in India, the government wanted to reduce the number of venomous cobras in Delhi. To tackle the issue, they announced a reward for every dead cobra brought in.
Initially, the plan worked brilliantly. People hunted cobras and claimed their bounties.
But soon, some clever individuals began breeding cobras to earn more rewards. When the government found out and ended the scheme, the breeders released their now-worthless cobras into the wild, increasing the cobra population far beyond what it was before. A well-intentioned solution had spectacularly backfired.
The Cybersecurity Parallel
In the modern corporate world, the same unintended consequence often plays out in phishing simulation programs.
Organizations run phishing tests to see which employees click on suspicious links. The idea is to measure awareness and train those who fall for the bait.
On paper, it’s smart and data-driven. In reality, it can quietly breed a Cobra Effect.
Here’s how:
- Some employees who don’t click on simulated phishing emails are assumed to be aware, when in truth many may have never even noticed the email, ignored it out of habit, or simply deleted it without thought.
- Over time, these employees become passively disengaged. They stop paying attention to emails altogether, creating a dangerous pattern of false negatives.
- Meanwhile, only those who “failed” the test are sent for additional training, turning awareness into a punitive exercise rather than a cultural movement.
The result? A program meant to strengthen cyber awareness ends up creating fear, complacency, and blind spots, the digital version of breeding more cobras.
The Real Purpose of Awareness
Just like the cobra bounty was meant to eliminate snakes, phishing simulations are meant to eliminate risky behavior. But when the focus shifts from understanding to metrics, the message is lost.
Cybersecurity awareness should not be about catching people off guard; it should be about helping them think before they click.
Instead of rewarding those who didn’t click, we should be asking:
“Did they know why they shouldn’t have clicked?”
True awareness is not about punishment or numbers. It is about reflection, dialogue, and everyday vigilance.
October Cybersecurity Awareness Month
This October, as organizations worldwide run awareness campaigns and phishing simulations, it’s worth asking whether our efforts are addressing the root cause or just treating the symptoms. The Cobra Effect reminds us that when we measure the wrong things, we risk amplifying the problem we set out to solve. When we rely solely on phishing tests to see “who clicked,” we may unintentionally create a workforce that is less engaged, more anxious, and no wiser. Awareness programs should spark curiosity, reward understanding, and make every employee feel part of the defense, not part of the test. Cybersecurity awareness is not about trapping people; it is about transforming them.
Game of Storytelling 