Social engineering attacks are a type of cyberattack that relies on human interaction. These attacks involve hackers tricking victims into giving up their personal information or clicking on malicious links. Social engineering attacks can be very successful, as they often target people’s emotions or vulnerabilities.
What is social engineering?
Social engineering is a technique that uses human psychology to manipulate people into giving up their personal information or taking actions that they would not normally take. Social engineering attacks can be carried out through a variety of channels, including email, phone calls, and in-person interactions.
How do social engineering attacks work?
Social engineering attacks typically involve the following steps:
- The attacker identifies a target. The attacker may target someone who they believe is vulnerable to social engineering, such as someone who is new to a company or someone who is not familiar with cyber security risks.
- The attacker builds rapport with the target. The attacker may do this by pretending to be someone they are not, such as a coworker or a customer service representative.
- The attacker creates a sense of urgency. The attacker may tell the target that they need to take action immediately, such as clicking on a link or providing their personal information.
- The attacker asks for the target’s personal information or to take a specific action. The attacker may ask for the target’s password, credit card number, or other sensitive information.
What are some common social engineering attacks?
There are many different types of social engineering attacks, but some of the most common include:
Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks involve sending emails that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or a credit card company. The emails will often contain a link that, when clicked, will take the victim to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once the victim enters their personal information on the fake website, the attacker can steal it.
- Scareware attacks: Scareware attacks involve sending emails that contain warnings about a security threat, such as a virus or a malware infection. The emails will often contain a link that, when clicked, will take the victim to a website that offers to scan their computer for viruses. However, the website is actually malicious and will install malware on the victim’s computer.
- Pretexting attacks: Pretexting attacks involve calling or emailing the victim and pretending to be someone they are not, such as a coworker or a customer service representative. The attacker will then ask the victim for personal information, such as their password or their credit card number.
- Baiting attacks: Baiting attacks involve leaving a USB drive or other device in a public place. The device will contain malicious software that will be installed on the victim’s computer when they plug it in.
How can I protect myself from social engineering attacks?
There are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from social engineering attacks:
- Be suspicious of emails and phone calls that ask for personal information. If you receive an email or phone call that asks for your personal information, do not give it out unless you are sure that the sender is legitimate.
- Be careful about clicking on links in emails and on websites. If you are not sure whether a link is legitimate, do not click on it. Instead, hover over the link to see the actual URL. If the URL looks suspicious, do not click on it.
- Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help to protect you from malware and other attacks.
- Be aware of the latest social engineering scams. There are many websites and resources that can help you to stay informed about the latest social engineering scams.
Additional tips
- Use strong passwords and do not reuse them across different websites.
- Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible.
- Be careful about what information you share on social media.
- Be aware of the risks of using public Wi-Fi.
- Educate your employees about social engineering attacks.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself and your business from social engineering attacks.
