Unveiling personalized and gamification-based cybersecurity risks within financial institutions

Gamification has emerged as a transformative e-business strategy, introducing innovative methods to engage customers and drive sales. This article explores the integration of game design principles into business contexts, termed "gamification," a subject of increasing interest among both scholars and industry professionals. The discussion systematically addresses key themes, like the role of gamification in marketing strategies, enhancing website functionality, and its application within the financial sector, including e-banking, drawing insights from academic and industry perspectives. By conducting a systematic literature review of 48 academic articles published between 2015 and 2024, this study examines the use of personalized, gamification-based strategies to mitigate cyber threats in the financial domain. The review highlights the growing digitization of financial services and the corresponding rise in sophisticated cyber threats, including traditional attacks and advanced persistent threats (APTs). This article critically assesses the evolving landscape of cyber threats specific to the financial industry, identifying trends, challenges, and innovative solutions to strengthen cybersecurity practices. Of particular interest is the application of AI-enhanced gamification strategies to reinforce cybersecurity protocols, particularly in the face of novel threats in gaming platforms. Furthermore, the review evaluates techniques grounded in user behavior, motivation, and readiness to enhance cybersecurity. The article also offers a comprehensive taxonomy of financial services, categorizing cyber threats into game-based (<i>e.g</i>., phishing, malware, APTs) and non-game-based (<i>e.g</i>., social engineering, compliance issues) threats. AI-driven measures for prevention and detection emphasize regular security assessments, user training, and system monitoring with incident response plans. This research provides valuable insights into the intersection of gamification and cybersecurity, offering a forward-looking perspective for both academic researchers and industry professionals.