Social engineering is a deceptive tactic cybercriminals use to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.
Attackers exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities, making it a highly effective method for cybercrime.
Phishing, one of the most common social engineering techniques, has become increasingly prevalent, posing a significant threat to individuals and organizations worldwide.
We spoke with Esther Ogechi, a certified cybersecurity professional at Charistech Consulting, via an online interview about the escalation of social engineering and what makes it so successful.
According to Esther: “It’s easier to hack humans than to hack computer systems because humans we are emotional being in nature”.
She added: ” Attackers can exploit our human nature and emotions like trust, urgency, fear, curiosity to perpetuate these attacks.”
As cybercriminals continue to refine their tactics, understanding social engineering and its risks is more important than ever.
You will most likely doubt this but social engineering has been the reason for more than 98% of attacks.
Why Attackers Prefer Social Engineering
Attackers often prefer exploiting human vulnerabilities because with computers controls can be in place to block certain requests or disallow certain malicious actions.
“For computers, infrastructures, operating systems you can build controls that you know are reliable to actually stop and prevent attackers from gaining access into your system and networks,” said Esther.
Humans are often gullible and that’s what attackers seek to exploit. A recent report shows that 95% of data breaches occurred as a result of human error.
What Role Does Social Media Play in Social Engineering?
“As human beings, we sometimes like the idea of community and connecting to one another…..we tend to overshare certain things on social media. “
“There is something called reconnaissance in cybersecurity, attackers keeps gathering bits of information and then put it together until its sustainable. “
“Sometimes you get personalized messages that uses your name; you were my classmate, let’s connect, click on this link and stuffs like that.”
Information gathered on social media and the internet makes it possible to trick someone to reveal sensitive information that can be costly.
How Social Engineering Attacks Work
Social engineering attacks rely on psychological manipulation to deceive victims into sharing sensitive information or granting unauthorized access. Attackers exploit human emotions like trust, fear, and urgency to increase the chances of success.
Cybercriminals use tactics such as persuasion, impersonation, and intimidation to trick victims. They often pretend to be trusted individuals or organizations to gain credibility.
Attackers create a sense of urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying information. They may use fake emergencies, threats, or promises of rewards to lower the victim’s defences.
How to Identify Social Engineering Attacks
Recognizing social engineering attacks is essential to preventing cyber threats. Here are key warning signs to watch for:
- Suspicious Emails and Messages: Be cautious of unexpected emails, texts, or calls, especially those requesting sensitive information or containing unusual links or attachments.
- Unsolicited Requests for Sensitive Information: Legitimate organizations rarely ask for personal details, passwords, or financial data through email or phone. Always verify such requests.
- Emotional Manipulation and Urgency Tactics: Attackers create a sense of urgency or fear to pressure victims into acting quickly without verifying authenticity. Be sceptical of messages demanding immediate action.
- Generic Greetings and Spoofed Email Addresses: Phishing emails often use generic salutations like “Dear Customer” and may come from email addresses that look similar to official ones but contain slight misspellings.
Best Practices to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks
For Individuals:
- Verify sender identity before clicking links or downloading files.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security.
- Use strong, unique passwords to protect accounts.
- Be sceptical of unsolicited requests for sensitive information.
- Report suspicious emails and messages to prevent attacks.
For Businesses and Organizations:
- Conduct employee training to raise awareness about social engineering threats.
- Implement email filtering and anti-phishing tools to block malicious messages.
- Establish strong security policies to guide employees on safe practices.
- Regularly test employees with phishing simulations to improve detection skills.
- Create a conducive environment to allow employees to report potential issues.
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