The Secure Edge of Interaction: Human and Technological Factors in Digital Environments

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of digital environments has redefined the boundaries of human–computer interaction. Interactive systems today not only enhance usability and efficiency but also introduce complex layers of security challenges. Balancing user experience with robust cybersecurity has therefore become a critical interdisciplinary goal, bridging human factors, cognitive processes, and technological innovation.

This Special Issue explores the secure edge of interaction—the point where human behavior, cognitive mechanisms, and digital infrastructures intersect to shape trust, resilience, and safety in connected systems. The aim is to understand how human decisions and intelligent technologies mutually influence each other in creating a secure and adaptive digital future.

This Special Issue focuses on the convergence of human–computer interaction, information security, and cognitive technologies in modern digital environments. Emphasis is placed on research and development activities that strengthen the security and resilience of information systems, examine human security awareness and behavior, and explore the emerging role of cognitive information systems in supporting secure decision-making. The integration and application of artificial intelligence (AI) for threat detection, adaptive interfaces, and trust management are also of key interest.

We particularly welcome new research findings, comparative analyses, and systematic reviews addressing (but not limited to) the following areas:

• Information system security and resilience: Secure architectures, intrusion detection, risk modeling, and AI-driven defense mechanisms.
• Human factors and cybersecurity awareness: Behavioral analysis, cognitive biases, training strategies, and user-centered security design.
• Cognitive information systems: Perception, reasoning, and learning mechanisms contributing to adaptive and context-aware security solutions.
• Secure human–computer interaction: Usability–security trade-offs, privacy-preserving design, and secure interface engineering.
• AI and intelligent automation in digital trust: Human-in-the-loop models, predictive defense, and autonomous decision support.
• Digital identity and trust frameworks: Authentication, biometric security, and cross-platform data protection.
• IoT and smart environment security: Safe interaction between humans and connected physical–digital infrastructures.
• Ethical and societal implications: Transparency, autonomy, surveillance, and digital responsibility in human–technology ecosystems.

Submissions are encouraged from all relevant fields that contribute to understanding and improving secure, human-centric, and intelligent digital interactions.

Dr. Veronika Szücs
Dr. Leszek Siwik
Guest Editors

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