Don’t Get Hacked! Do This instead!

Watch out for social engineering. Social engineering refers to the manipulative techniques that hackers and cybercriminals use to gain access to sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords, financial and personal data, or even physical access to secure locations. It is a non-technical attack that relies on deceiving the victim through psychological manipulation, tricking them into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise their security.

Examples of social engineering include phishing scams, pretexting, baiting, watering hole attacks, and tailgating. These tactics use a combination of social skills, social media, information gathering, impersonation, or pretext to convince their targets to comply with their demands.

Social engineering attacks are an effective way to bypass security measures that focus solely on technology. To prevent such attacks, individuals and organizations should remain vigilant, recognize suspicious behavior, and raise awareness through education and training programs. Adopting strong security protocols, implementing access controls, and regularly reviewing policies and procedures can also help mitigate the risks associated with social engineering.

Don’t get Phished! Phishing is a type of online scam in which attackers use email, text messages, or social media to trick people into providing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details. The attackers may create fake emails or websites that appear to be legitimate in order to deceive people into entering their information. Once the attackers have access to this sensitive data, they can use it to steal money, identities, or commit other types of fraud. Phishing attacks can be particularly successful when a person is unaware of the signs indicating that a message or website is not legitimate.

Have you ever heard of pre-texting? Pretexting is a type of social engineering attack where an attacker creates a fictional scenario in order to trick a person into providing sensitive information or performing an action that they would not normally do. This type of attack is also known as a pretext attack, and it often involves the attacker impersonating another person or organization.

The attacker might use a range of tactics to make their pretext seem believable, such as claiming to be a law enforcement officer or a security professional investigating a breach. They may use various channels to contact their target, such as phone calls, emails, or messaging services.

The ultimate goal of pretexting is to obtain sensitive information that can be used to carry out a cyber attack or gain unauthorized access to a system. Like phishing, pretexting relies on the victim’s trust in the attacker and their willingness to comply with their demands. It’s important for individuals and organizations to be aware of pretexting and take steps to protect themselves, such as verifying the identity of the person or organization making a request and being cautious about sharing sensitive information.

And then there’s Baiting. Baiting is a type of social engineering attack that uses a temptation or reward to lure a victim into divulging sensitive information, installing malware, or carrying out some other action that benefits the attacker. The attacker typically offers the bait in the form of a free item or a promising opportunity, such as a USB flash drive with a logo of a popular brand or a job offer that requires the victim to divulge personal and financial information.

When the victim takes the bait, they unknowingly allow the attacker to steal their sensitive data or access their system. Baiting attacks can be carried out using various channels like email, social media, or phone calls, and the bait may be designed to appeal to the victim’s emotions or desires.

Baiting can also occur in the physical world, for example, when an attacker leaves a USB drive in a public place where it’s likely to be found. When the victim picks it up and plugs it into their system, it can install malware that gives the attacker remote access to their computer or network.

To protect themselves from baiting attacks, individuals and organizations should avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading files that come from untrusted sources, and be suspicious of free offers that seem too good to be true. Educating employees on the dangers of baiting, and regularly reminding them of security best practices can also help prevent such attacks.

Craig Bushon