Watch Out For Social Engineering Attacks

We are aware of the type of attacker who utilizes their technical expertise to penetrate protected computer systems and exploit sensitive data. We deploy new security solutions that help us counter their exploits and boost our network defense.

However, there is another type of attacker who utilizes different tactics and tools to exploit human error to gain access and private information. These are called “Social Engineering Attacks” and these hackers are called “Social Engineers” as they exploit human psychology. Based on how people think and react, these attackers may appear online, in person, or through other interactions to trick people into providing access to their personal or organizational information.

What are Social Engineering Attacks?

Social engineering attacks refer to manipulative tactics used by malicious individuals to deceive and exploit people’s trust, emotions, or psychological vulnerabilities in order to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to carry out fraudulent activities. Unlike traditional hacking methods that focus on exploiting technical vulnerabilities in systems, social engineering attacks primarily target human psychology and behavior.

Let’s learn about some of the social engineering attacks.

1. Phishing

Phishing is a cyber attack that uses disguised email as a target weapon where the goal is to trick the email recipient into believing that the message is from a trusted entity or a person. Eg: a request from their bank or a note from someone in their company to click a link or download an attachment.

The following are the objectives for all most all high-level phishing scams:

• Obtain personal information such as names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers.
• Use shortened or misleading links that redirect users to suspicious websites that host phishing landing pages.
• Incorporate threats, fear, and a sense of urgency in an attempt to manipulate the user into responding quickly.

2. Pretexting

Pretexting is a type of social engineering where the attacker focuses on creating a fabricated scenario that is used to steal the victim’s personal and financial information. In these types of scams, the attacker tries to gain bits of information from the target victim to confirm their identity which in reality is to steal these data and use it for identity theft or secondary attacks.

On an advanced level, the attacker might even make the target into doing things that may abuse an organization. Eg: an attacker might impersonate an external IT services auditor so that they can talk a target company’s physical security team into letting them into the building. Pretexting is mostly seen to impersonate HR personnel or employees in the finance department which will allow them to target C-level executives.

3. Baiting and Quid Pro Quo

Baiting is a type of social engineering that promises an item or good that the attacker uses to entice victims. Baiters may leverage the offer of free music or movie downloads to trick users into handing in their login credentials.

Quid Pro Quo is similar to Baiting, in quid pro quo the benefit the attacker provides is a service, whereas baiting usually takes the form of a good.

Eg: The attacker may impersonate a government entity and ask the victim to confirm their social security for the purpose of committing identity theft.

Fact: Reports show that office workers are willing to provide their passwords for a pen or even a chocolate bar.

4. Tailgating

Tailgating is also called “piggybacking.” In these types of attacks, the attacker without the proper authentication tries to follow an authenticated employee into a restricted area. Eg: The attacker might impersonate delivery personnel and wait outside a building and once an employee opens the door, the attacker asks the employee to hold the door, thereby gaining access to the building. These attackers usually don’t work in all corporate settings but are largely seen in midsize companies

Recommendations

Malicious actors who engage in social engineering attacks prey on human psychology and curiosity in order to compromise their targets’ information.

Here are a few tips that organizations can incorporate into their security awareness training programs that will help users to avoid social engineering schemes:

• Do not open any emails from untrusted sources. Contact a friend or family member in person or by phone if you receive a suspicious email message from them.
• Do not give offers from strangers the benefit of the doubt. If they seem too good to be true, they probably are.
• Lock your laptop whenever you are away from your workstation.
• Purchase anti-virus software. No AV solution can defend against every threat that seeks to jeopardize users’ information, but it can help protect against some.
• Read your company’s privacy policy to understand under what circumstances you can or should let a stranger into the building.

Learn more about our Cybersecurity Assessments Services.