PEOPLE HACKING AWARENESS (SOCIAL ENGINEERING): 6 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL ENGINEERING

 

 Social engineering attacks are on the rise. By manipulating human psychology rather than employing technical hacking techniques, social engineers are increasingly successful at infiltrating secure systems. Preventing their deception and influence from impacting you requires knowledge of how these tactics work.

 Social engineering takes many forms, like phishing, pretexting, baiting, and impersonation. Skilled social engineers research targets, build trust, and exploit human tendencies to gain unauthorized data or access. They trick people into handing over login credentials, sensitive information, even access to facilities.

 Defending against manipulation starts with awareness. Know the common tactics used and psychological triggers exploited. Things like urgency, fear, authority, scarcity, likability, and distraction are all leverage points. Recognize signs of impersonation or attempts to build rapport too quickly.

 Enter every request for information or access with skepticism. Verify identities and credentials before complying. Have clear policies limiting data access and sharing between employees or with outsiders.

 Foster a workplace culture of caution against unsolicited contacts and transparency when breaches occur. And know that you are ultimately your last line of defense; no technology can fully protect against the vulnerabilities in human nature.

 This series will delve into specific social engineering techniques and best practices for protecting yourself and your organization. But it begins with understanding just how susceptible we all are. The first step toward better security is acknowledging our weaknesses.