Introduction
A recent cyberattack targeted an email marketing service provider. The unauthorized actor penetrated the company’s database and gained access to a whopping 133 user account details and passwords. You might be wondering how this could be done.
Well, with technological advancements comes a growing concern for the security of our information for both businesses and individuals. Hackers are continuously seeking new ways to breach your defenses. One of their oldest tactics that has proved to be very cunning yet efficient is social engineering. With this strategy, hackers lure their victims persuasively into revealing the sensitive information they seek.
How do they do this, and how can I avoid falling prey? Get ready as we embark on a journey to uncover how hackers think and how you and your organization can remain vigilant against this threat known as social engineering.
What is Social Engineering?
Social engineering is a term used to describe the techniques that hackers employ to manipulate people into sharing information or taking actions that compromise their security. It exploits the human factor in cybersecurity often seen as the weakest link in an organization’s defense.
Now that we know what they do, let’s find out why they do so. Here are some common motives:
- Financial gain
- Data theft
- Cyber warfare
- Malware distribution
- Damaging someone’s reputation
How Social Engineering works
It usually follows these three steps:
- Information gathering. Here, they scout for information about their target using open-source intelligence such as social media, corporate websites, or publicly accessible databases.
- Initiating contact. Armed with the information gathered, they make direct contact. This is where they get crafty, try to sound credible, and convince you to reveal confidential information.
- Exploitation. For social engineers, it is go time. They go ahead and infiltrate systems through stolen credentials, orchestrate identity theft, or whatever evil plan they might have.
Types of Social Engineering
To help you really understand the several types of social engineering, each one comes with a practical example of how it can be enacted:
- Phishing. This involves using deceptive emails disguised as legitimate correspondence. These emails trick your employees into clicking on malicious links or following misleading prompts. According to IBM, this was one of the most costly attacks in 2022. And as if to fan the flames, phishing comes in different forms:
- Spear phishing. This means sending harmful emails to specific individuals within an organization.
- Whaling. The main targets of these attacks are decision-makers and CEOs of organizations.
- Smishing. Here, deceptive links are sent through text messages.
- Vishing. It works like smishing, only this time, you get an automated voice call posing as a legitimate organization.
Example. You get an email from what looks like the IT department in your company instructing you to quickly change your password. As you click on the link provided, it re-directs you to a fake site that collects your login information.
- Baiting. Baiting entices you with something too good to resist like a free gift or service while misleading you to download malware.
Example. A flash drive or USB stick labeled “employee payroll” is kept on your office table. You could pick it up and plug it into a computer without knowing malware is being installed on the computer.
- Scareware. Scareware instills fear in you with misleading notifications. It will make you believe your computer is infected with malware and prompt you to install a recommended software as the solution. Regrettably, this so-called solution often turns out to be malicious, such as a virus or spyware.
Example. Imagine you’re browsing the web and a pop-up banner appears in your web browser, displaying messages like “Your computer may be infected.” These banners offer to install a patch or redirect users to a fraudulent website.
- Tailgating. Refers to an unauthorized person following you into a secure location. They frequently pose as delivery personnel, a contractor, or someone with valid access to the area. They gain entry by taking advantage of your confidence or a security gap.
Example. An individual follows you closely without your knowledge to gain entry into an office with confidential information.
- Pretexting. They pose as an individual from a trusted organization and lure you into sharing personal information. This technique relies on information gathered before engaging you.
Example. Let’s say you receive an email that qualifies you for a grant or loan. You are asked to send in your personal data to finalize the qualification. This is a dangerous trap.
The reality is that none of us can be too careful with social engineering attacks. A brief lapse in attention or judgment can lead to an error that might result in significant financial losses for your company. Curious about what you can do to prevent these attacks?
Best practices for preventing Social Engineering attacks
- Access control policy. Enable secure policies and technologies, including multi-factor authentication and a zero-trust security strategy, to serve as protection against hackers and limit them to network resources.
- Employee awareness and training. Carry out regular cybersecurity training to educate your employees about the risks of social engineering and how to identify the techniques used.
- Keep operating systems and software updated. Regularly update systems with the latest patches to reduce vulnerability.
- Regular audit. Carry out security audits and vulnerability assessments to spot weaknesses in security compliance.
- Limit information sharing. Resist the urge to post sensitive personal, official, and family information on social media to avoid social engineering.
- Implement continuous monitoring. This is a proactive approach for early detection and response to security incidents.
Conclusion
No one is exempted from social engineering attacks. Understanding the harm social engineering can cause will motivate you and your organization to put the best practices for preventing the attacks as a priority.
Social engineering demands a proactive and strategic response. You and your organization can defend against it by having an employee awareness and training culture, keeping operating systems and software updated, carrying out regular audits, limiting information sharing, and implementing access control policies. Implementing these tips, you can beat hackers at their own game.
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