Social Engineering

December 19, 2022

Social engineering is a type of attack in which hackers take advantage of human flaws to gain access to systems or data. Hackers can trick people into giving them sensitive information or even letting them into secure areas by pretending to be someone they are not.

As we rely more and more on technology, this type of attack is becoming more common, so it’s critical that everyone is aware of the risks and knows how to protect themselves.

Employees are the most vulnerable point in any organization’s digital defense. They are frequently the first targets of potential intruders, and they are not always aware of the dangers posed by cyber threats.

In order to defend against these types of attacks, organizations must have proper security measures in place and employees must be properly trained.


Some Points to Remember:

  • Think before you click. In phishing attacks, attackers use a sense of urgency to get you to act first and think later. When you receive a highly urgent, high-pressure message, take a moment to verify the source’s credibility first. The best way is to use a different mode of communication than the one used to send the message, such as texting the person to see if they emailed you an urgent message or if it was sent by an attacker. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
  • Research the sources.Β Always be wary of unsolicited messages. Examine the domain links and the person sending you the email to see if they are genuine members of the organization. A typo/spelling error is usually a dead giveaway. Use a search engine, go to the company’s website, and look through their phone directory. These are all simple, easy ways to avoid being spoofed. Hovering your cursor over a link before clicking on it will reveal the link at the bottom, which is another way to ensure you are being redirected to the correct company’s website.
  • Email spoofing is ubiquitous.Β Cybercriminals, phishers, and social engineers are after your information and taking over people’s accounts. Once they have access, they will prey on your contacts. Even if the sender appears to be someone you know, it is still a good idea to double-check with them if you aren’t expecting any email links or files from them.
  • Don’t download files you don’t know.Β If you (a) don’t recognize the sender, (b) don’t anticipate anything from the sender, and (c) aren’t sure if you should view the file they just sent you with “URGENT” in the email title, don’t open the message at all. By doing so, you eliminate the possibility of being an insider threat.
  • Offers and prizes are fake.Β If you receive an email from a Nigerian prince promising a large sum of money, it’s most likely a scam.

1. Research: Hackers investigate their targets to gather the information that can be used to exploit them. This could include searching the internet for publicly available information or even conducting physical surveillance.

2. Planning: Hackers will plan their attack once they have gathered enough information. This entails determining the methods they will employ to exploit their target’s weaknesses.

3. Execution: The hacker will then carry out their strategy, performing whatever actions are required to gain access to their target’s systems or data. This could include sending phishing emails, installing malware, or employing other forms of malicious software.

4. Escalation: If the initial attacker has access, the hackers will attempt to escalate their privileges within the system in order to gain additional access and cause more damage. This could include stealing passwords, adding new users, or modifying system settings.

5. Cover up: Lastly, hackers will try to hide their tracks by erasing any evidence of their activity and/or encrypting stolen data.

Share:

Comments

Leave the first comment