How Does Social Engineering Work?

Social engineering is a type of cybercrime that uses human psychology to trick people into giving up their personal information or taking actions that they would not normally take. Social engineers often use deception, persuasion, and intimidation to achieve their goals.

There are many different ways that social engineering can be used, but some of the most common methods include:

Phishing: Phishing is a type of email con that is designed to look like it is from a genuine source, such as a bank or credit card company. The email will often contain a link that, when snapped, will take the victim to a fake website that looks like the real website. Once the victim enters their personal information on the fake website, the social engineer can steal it.

Pretexting: Pretexting is a type of social manufacturing attack in which the attacker creates a false scenario in order to gain the victim's trust. For example, the attacker might pose as a customer service representative from a company and call the victim, claiming that there is a problem with their account. The attacker will then ask the victim for personal information, such as their Social Security number or credit card number.

Tailgating: Tailgating is a type of social engineering bout in which the attacker follows a legitimate employee into a secure area. The attacker will often pretend to be lost or confused in order to gain the employee's trust. Once the attacker is inside the secure area, they can steal sensitive information or cause damage.

Social engineering attacks can be very real because they target the human element of security. People are often more likely to trust someone they know, even if that person is not who they say they are. Social engineers are also very good at creating fake websites and emails that look like they are from legitimate sources.

There are a number of things that you can do to protect yourself from social engineering attacks, including:

Be skeptical of emails and telephone calls from people you don't know. If you obtain an email or phone call from someone who claims to be from a company you do business with, hang up the phone or delete the email. Do not click on any links in the email or give out any personal information.

Be careful about what information you share on social media. Social media outlines can be a goldmine of information for social engineers. Make sure you only share information that you are comfortable with the public knowing.

Be aware of your surroundings. If you are in a secure area, be careful about who you let follow you in. If you see someone who looks suspicious, report them to security.

By being aware of the risks of social engineering and taking steps to protect yourself, you can help to keep your personal information safe.

How is social engineering successful?

Social engineering is successful because it targets the human element of security. People are often more likely to trust someone they know, even if that person is not who they say they are. Social engineers are also very good at creating fake websites and emails that look like they are from legitimate sources.

Here are some of the reasons why social engineering is so successful:

People are naturally trusting. We are more likely to trust someone who seems friendly and credible, even if we don't know them very well. Social engineers are very good at creating a sense of trust, often by pretending to be from a legitimate source.

People are often in a hurry. When we are in a hurry, we are less likely to think critically about what we are doing. This makes us more susceptible to social engineering attacks.

People are often afraid of missing out. Social engineers often use fear of missing out (FOMO) to pressure people into taking action. For example, they might send an email that says "Your account will be suspended if you don't click on this link."

People are often curious. Social engineers often use curiosity to get people to click on links or give out personal information. For example, they might send an email that says "Click here to see if you won a prize."

By understanding the reasons why social engineering is successful, we can be more aware of the risks and take steps to protect ourselves.

Here are some tips for protecting yourself from social engineering attacks:

Be skeptical of emails and telephone calls from people you don't know. If you obtain an email or phone call from someone who claims to be from a company you do business with, hang up the phone or delete the email. Do not click on any links in the email or give out any personal information.

Be careful about what information you share on social media. Social media outlines can be a goldmine of information for social engineers. Make sure you only share information that you are comfortable with the public knowing.

Be aware of your surroundings. If you are in a secure area, be careful about who you let follow you in. If you see someone who looks suspicious, report them to security.

Get training on social engineering. There are many resources available to help you learn about social engineering and how to protect yourself.