Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash
Social engineering is a tactic used by malicious individuals to trick people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. This type of attack is becoming increasingly common and can have serious consequences. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of social engineering and what you can do to protect yourself.
Types of Social Engineering:
Phishing: This is a form of social engineering that involves sending emails or messages that are from a trustworthy source to steal personal information.
I. Indicators: Requests for personal information, urgency to act, suspicious URLs or attachments.
II. Prevention: Always verify the sender’s identity, do not click on suspicious links or download attachments from unknown sources, and use anti-virus software.
Baiting: This is a physical type of social engineering that involves leaving a tempting item, such as a USB drive, in a public place in the hope that someone will pick it up and insert it into their computer, infecting it with malware.
I. Indicators: Unusual items left in public places, suspicious offers or gifts.
II. Prevention: Do not insert unknown devices into your computer and always practice good security habits, such as regularly updating software and using anti-virus software.
Pretexting: This is a form of social engineering that involves creating a fake identity or scenario to gain access to sensitive information.
I. Indicators: Requests for personal information, strange or unusual requests.
II. Prevention: Verify the identity of anyone who requests sensitive information, be cautious of unsolicited requests, and do not disclose sensitive information unless you are confident in the requestor’s identity.
Scareware: This is a type of social engineering that involves presenting the victim with a fake problem or threat in order to trick them into downloading malicious software or handing over personal information.
I. Indicators: Pop-up messages with urgency, false warnings or alerts.
II. Prevention: Keep your software updated, use anti-virus software, and do not download software from unknown or untrusted sources.
Social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated and widespread, but with a little caution and knowledge, you can protect yourself and your personal information. Stay vigilant and always verify the identity of anyone who requests sensitive information or downloads software on your behalf.
Always keep in mind that if an event appears too good to be true, it mostly is.
