SPEAR

Social Profiling for Exploitability Assessment and Red Teaming

What is SPEAR?

The SPEAR (Social Profiling for Exploitability Assessment and Red Teaming) project aims to address, in an innovative way, the growing phenomenon of cyber threats based on social engineering, which are amplified by the use of artificial intelligence. The main objective is to develop an advanced framework for the analysis, simulation, and mitigation of human risk in cybersecurity, integrating behavioral sciences, OSINT data collection, and AI technologies.

What is proposed

The SPEAR (Social Profiling for Exploitability Assessment and Red Teaming) project aims to address, in an innovative way, the growing phenomenon of cyber threats based on social engineering, which are amplified by the use of artificial intelligence. The main objective is to develop an advanced framework for the analysis, simulation, and mitigation of human risk in cybersecurity, integrating behavioral sciences, OSINT data collection, and AI technologies. The goal is to create a technological platform capable of ethically identifying and profiling the behavioral vulnerabilities of individuals and groups, thereby anticipating sophisticated social engineering attacks. The project is structured around three main areas: the theoretical modeling of the psychological mechanisms that make users susceptible (UniSalento); the application of AI to qualify OSINT data and simulate attacks; and the integration of these components into a functional prototype to support red teaming, auditing, and awareness activities (EHT). SPEAR introduces a paradigm shift, moving the focus from purely technological defenses to dynamic and adaptive tools centered on the analysis of the human factor, which is increasingly the primary entry point for advanced threats. The project stands out for its multidisciplinary nature and its ability to generate a predictive model of human risk, making a concrete contribution to the informational and psychological resilience of organizational systems and to the digital security capabilities of SMEs.

Project type

Call for Proposals: STEP Action 1.1.4 – MIMIT

SPEAR

Information

Area

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Period

March 24, 2026 – March 24, 2029

Total value

€ 1.999.988,59

Total value for EHT

€1,499,989.20 > EHT

Status

Ongoing

Partners

EHT SCPA (Lead Partner)

UNIVERSITY OF SALENTO