On October 22, 2026, Tobias Reittinger successfully defended his dissertation at the University of Regensburg, supervised by Prof. Dr. Günther Pernul, with Prof. Dr. Susanne Leist serving as second reviewer and Prof. Dr. Sokratis Katsikas (NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology) as third reviewer. Prof. Dr. Maria Leitner chaired the doctoral committee.
His dissertation, “Guiding Behavior in Organizational Cybersecurity,” examines how digital interfaces and behavioral interventions shape human decision-making in cybersecurity. The research investigates how defaults, visual emphasis, and interaction friction influence security choices, exploring the boundary between supportive digital nudging and manipulative design patterns (“dark patterns”). Combining behavioral theory with empirical studies of employee motivation, passkey adoption, access reviews, and cyber threat intelligence sharing, the work develops basic research and practical recommendations for responsible digital design, emphasizing informed choice, transparency, and user autonomy.
