Social engineering assaults consist of multiple phases. A perpetrator initially analyzes the target victim to obtain background information needed to carry out the assault, such as possible routes of entry and weak security mechanisms. This article will explain social engineering, social engineering attacks, how to protect yourself from social engineering, and social engineering examples.
This is the practice of manipulating people in an online context by convincing them to give sensitive, personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or banking information in good faith
Social engineering can also happen when the “engineer” asks the victim to wire money to what the victim thinks is a financial institution or person with whom the victim does business, but the money ends up in the account of the “engineer.”
Cyber and privacy insurance plans can cover losses resulting from social engineering if they have a guarantee for it, but the amount of coverage is usually a maximum of $100,000. Also, social engineering coverage, which also goes by the name “fraudulent instruction coverage,” is available only as extra coverage above the limits of any applicable business crime insurance policy.
What Is the Social Engineering
Social engineering is a way to get private information, access, or goods by taking advantage of people’s mistakes. In cybercrime, these so-called “human hacking” scams are often used to trick users who don’t know what’s going on into revealing data, spreading malware attacks, or giving access to systems that should be kept private. Attacks can happen in person, online, or in other ways.
Social engineering is a type of fraud that is based on how people think and act. Because of this, social engineering attacks are a great way to change how a person acts. Once an attacker knows what makes a user do what they do, they can trick and control the user well.
Furthermore, hackers attempt to take advantage of a user’s lack of expertise. Because technology moves so quickly, many customers and workers don’t know about risks like drive-by downloads. People may also not realize how important personal information like their phone number is. Because of this, many users don’t know how to keep themselves and their information safe.
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Social Engineering Attack
Attacks involving social engineering can take a lot of different shapes and can happen anywhere people talk to each other. Here are the five most common ways one can experience social engineering attacks.
#1. Baiting
Baiting attacks, as the name suggests, use a false offer to get a person to be greedy or curious. People fall for tricks into falling into a trap that steals their private information or puts malware on their computers.
Malware is spread through actual media, which is the most hated type of baiting. For example, attackers leave the bait, which is usually a flash drive with malware on it, in places where potential victims are sure to see it, like bathrooms, elevators, and the parking lot of a company that is being targeted. The bait looks real, with things like a label that says it is the company’s salary list.
People take the bait because they are curious and then put it into a computer at work or at home, which automatically installs malware on the system.
Scams that use bait don’t have to take place in the real world. Baiting online takes the form of ads that look good but lead to harmful sites or try to get people to download software that is infected with malware.
#2. Scareware
Scareware is one type of social engineering attack. It involves sending a lot of false warnings and fake threats to people. Users are tricked into thinking their computer is infected with malware, which makes them run software that doesn’t do anything useful (except for the person who did it) or is malware itself. Scareware is also called fraudware, illegal scanner software, and deception software.
Scareware often comes in the form of pop-up banners that look real and say things like, “Your computer may be infected with harmful spyware programs.” It will either offer to install the tool for you (which is often tainted with malware) or send you to a malicious site that will infect your computer.
Scareware is also spread through spam emails that give false warnings or try to get people to buy useless or damaging services.
#3. Pretexting
Pretexting is another form of social engineering attack that occurs when an attacker obtains information through a succession of carefully designed lies. Someone who claims to need the victim’s sensitive information in order to complete an important task typically starts the scam.
The attacker frequently starts off by pretending to be a coworker, a law enforcement officer, a banker or tax official, or any individual with the right to know. The imposter asks questions that seem to be needed to verify the victim’s identity, but they are really used to get important personal information.
This scam collects all kinds of important information and records, like social security numbers, personal addresses and phone numbers, phone records, staff vacation dates, bank records, and even information about a real plant’s security.
#4. Phishing
Phishing scams are email and text message campaigns that try to make people feel like they need to act quickly, are curious, or are scared. This is a very common type of social engineering attack. It then tricks them into giving out private information, clicking on links to malicious websites, or opening attachments that contain malware.
One example is an email that users of an online service get when they break a rule that requires them to do something right away, like change their password. It has a link to a fake website that looks almost exactly like the real one. This fake website asks the user to enter their current login information and a new password. The information is sent to the attacker when the form is sent.
Since phishing schemes send the same or almost the same message to all users, it is much easier for mail servers that have access to threat-sharing platforms to find and stop them.
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Protect Yourself From Social Engineering
In social engineering attacks, the attacker tries to get access to data or services by building relationships with people whose trust they can use. Staying aware is the first line of defense. The attacker might try to talk to you in a way that turns into questioning. But the best way to protect yourself from social engineering is to know who you can trust and to be trustworthy yourself. You need to find out who could access or change your account and make sure they have a good reason to do so. Here are ways to protect yourself from social engineering.
#1. Unknown Senders (Emails vs. Text Messages)
Look closely at the sender’s email address and the message itself. It is important to know that you don’t have to click on any links to shady documents.
#2. Stop Sharing Personal Information
Before you give out personal information like passwords and credit card numbers, you should think about it. No real business or person should ever ask for this kind of private information. Use passwords that are hard to guess and change them often. If you use the same password for more than one account, you could be a target of a social engineering attack.
#3. Layers Of Security
Whenever you can, use verification with two factors. It can add an extra layer of security by asking users to enter their username, password, and a code sent to their mobile phone. Set up security codes for your email and phone number so that if someone got into either system, they couldn’t use your account directly.
#4. Anti-virus Software
Put antivirus and anti-malware software on every gadget you own. Keep these programs up-to-date so they can protect you from the newest threats. But if you have antivirus software loaded on your devices, it can be a great defense against social engineering.
#5. Always Be Mindful Of Any Risks
You should always think about the risks. Make sure that any call for information is correct by checking it twice or even three times. Keep an eye out for cybersecurity news if a recent breach has caused you harm.
Social Engineering Example
There are many examples of social engineering in the news, but here are five to give you an idea of how it works:
#1. Marriott Hotel
Using social engineering methods, a hacking group stole 20 GB of personal and financial data from a Marriott hotel. The hackers got a worker at the Marriott Hotel to give them access to the worker’s computer.
#2. US Department of Labor (DoL)
This was a social engineering attack example that stole login information for Office 365. The attack was done with smart phishing, using fake domains that looked exactly like the real DoL domain. The emails looked like they came from a senior DoL worker asking them to bid on a government job. When the employee clicked the “Bid” button, they were taken to a “phishing” site, which is used to steal passwords.
#3. Zoom users
A phishing operation that targeted employees affected at least 50,000 people. The social engineers used the fear of being laid off to get workers to click on a link to set up a Zoom meeting with HR. When the employee clicked on the link, it took them to a fake Zoom login page that was set up to steal passwords.
#4. FACC (Austrian aircraft manufacturer)
FACC suffered a loss of around 42 million euros as a result of a complex business email compromise (BEC) scam. The email account of the company’s CEO was hacked and used to send an “urgent” request for a money transfer. This email tricked a person who worked in accounts payable, who agreed to the request and sent the money to the thief.
#5. Crowdstrike callback
Social engineering is so powerful that even security companies are feeling it. Crowdstrike is now being used as a part of and an example in the game of social engineering. Scammers are sending phishing emails to workers using the trusted name of Crowdstrike and other security companies. The email has information about a possible malware attack and a phone number to call to get rid of any malware that has been installed. The employee is tricked into giving the attacker access to their computer if they reach the number.
Read Also: WHAT IS CYBER SECURITY? Examples, Threat & Importance
Conclusion
To protect yourself from social engineering threats, you need to learn how to protect yourself. Since we’ve already told you about some tried-and-true methods and examples of social engineering attacks that have been used around the world for a long time, make sure to start taking steps right away. Social engineering attacks can hurt a person’s career in a matter of seconds. Always use two set-up login verification codes to protect your devices, passwords, and other log-ins. This is another safety measure.
What Is Social Engineering in Cyber?
This is a term for all of the methods used to trick someone into giving up information or doing something they shouldn’t.
What Is the Most Common Social Engineering?
The most common attacks are:
- Attacks by Phishing.
- Focused hacking.
- Whaling.
- Both smishing and vishing.
- Baiting.
- Piggybacking/Tailgating.
- Pretexting.
- (BEC) Business Email Compromise
Is Social Engineering the Biggest Threat?
Social engineering is a type of attack that relies heavily on human contact and usually involves tricking people into breaking normal security procedures and best practices to get illegal access to systems, networks, physical places, or to make money.
Who Is the Most Likely Target of Social Engineering?
People who are wealthy, well-known, or in high-level positions are most often the targets of social engineering attacks. Criminals go after people who have a lot of power and access.
What Is the Best Defense Against Social Engineering?
People think that the best way to stop social engineering attacks is to train and educate the people who work for a company.
What Is Social Engineering Also Known As?
Because it targets human frailties rather than those of technological or digital systems, social engineering is also referred to as “human hacking.” This is due to the fact that its primary target is vulnerable individuals.
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