What YOU need to know about Social Engineering.

In cybersecurity, some of the trickiest adversaries to spot and protect against utilize varying forms social engineering attacks. These sly maneuvers play on human psychology rather than exploiting technical weaknesses, making them nearly impossible to defend against. The initial line of defense against these potential risks involves familiarizing yourself with the common types of social engineering attacks, a vital step in shielding both personal and professional information.

Phishing attacks take center stage as one of the most widespread social engineering tactics. Usually delivered through emails or messages, they aim to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. To sidestep becoming a victim, give unexpected emails a thorough once-over for odd sender addresses or grammatical missteps. Legitimate organizations seldom request sensitive information through email, so a cautious eye goes a long way.

               It is a best practice to look for telltale elicitation techniques which include, but are not limited to scarcity, urgency, familiarity, community, authority, intimidation, consensus and trust. For instance, if an adversary is trying to build rapport with you using a sense of community, consensus, or trust – it might be wise to approach with a healthy dose of skepticism. Similarly, if an adversary is trying to get you to act quickly (scarcity, urgency, intimidation, or authority), proceed with extreme caution. 

Another well-played card in an adversary’s pocket is pretexting, where attackers concoct a fictional scenario to cajole individuals into leaking sensitive information. Common examples of this social engineering tactic include posing as a colleague, IT support, or even a trusted authority figure. Spotting pretexting in action involves confirming the identity of the person making the request through a separate, recognized communication channel before sharing any confidential details.

Baiting comes into play by tempting individuals with the allure of something desirable, such as free software or entertainment, to trick them into disclosing sensitive data. Maintaining vigilance is key here, steer clear of unfamiliar links or files from dubious sources. Always double-check the legitimacy of offers before taking any action.

Social media platforms become breeding grounds for the extraction of personal information through quizzes, surveys, and personality tests. Cybercriminals exploit this data to craft profiles for targeted attacks. Exercise caution about the information you divulge online and keep a tight lid on details, especially if a quiz seems overly intrusive. Along this same stream, catfishing is still a hugely successful tactic used by adversaries to dupe individuals into revealing details about themselves that they otherwise would not share.

To bolster your defenses against social engineering, adopt a skeptical mindset. Verify unexpected requests through trusted channels, exercise caution with unsolicited communications, and be cautious about sharing personal information online. Introducing security awareness training within organizations can significantly bolster resilience against social engineering attacks. For individuals out there that are interested in better protecting themselves from social engineering campaigns, there is one tried and true solution that works in almost every scenario: don’t talk to strangers! What is meant by this is if the identity of a person cannot be unequivocally verified, simply do not engage in sensitive conversations with them. Whenever possible ask for bona fides to confirm identities, check out-of-band sources for validation, and follow your intuition. If it seems shady, it probably is.

In conclusion, keeping abreast of the tactics wielded by social engineers is pivotal in the ongoing cybersecurity struggle. By embracing a watchful and astute approach, individuals and organizations can outsmart these crafty ploys, shielding themselves from the potentially dire consequences of social engineering attacks.

               If you want to learn more about security awareness or if you have questions about ways to best protect yourself from cyber-attacks, contact a member of the SecurityInsecurity staff to learn more today!