How Social Engineering Works ?

Social Engineering

Social engineering is a deceptive tactic used by cybercriminals to manipulate human behavior in order to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems. It involves exploiting the natural inclination of individuals to trust and comply with requests from seemingly legitimate sources.

One common form of social engineering is phishing, where attackers send deceptive emails or messages pretending to be from a trustworthy entity, such as a bank or a reputable organization. These messages often contain urgent requests for personal information or login credentials, tricking unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive data.

Collect Information

This is the first stage in which the person learns as much as possible about the alleged victim. Information is collected from company websites, other publications, and sometimes through conversations with users of the target system.

Also Read  DDoS Attack

Attack Plan

The attackers outline how he/she intends to carry out the attack.

Acquire Tools

This includes computer programs that an attacker would use when launching an attack.

Attack

Exploit the weaknesses of the target system.

Use The Acquired Knowledge

Information collected during social engineering tactics, such as pet names, dates of birth of the organization’s sponsors, etc., is used in attacks such as guessing passwords.

Different Social Engineering Attack

Social engineering attacks have become increasingly prevalent in today’s digital world. These attacks exploit human psychology to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that can compromise their security. Now we will explore some of the most common social engineering attacks and how you can protect yourself from falling victim to them.

Also Read  What Is Lamphone Attack ?

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most well-known social engineering attacks. It involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to be from a reputable source, such as a bank or a popular website. The goal is to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or providing their personal information.

Pretexting

Pretexting is a social engineering attack where the attacker creates a false scenario or pretext to gain the victim’s trust. They may impersonate someone in a position of authority, such as a company executive or IT support personnel, to trick the victim into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that can compromise security.

Also Read  Phishing Attack

Baiting

Baiting involves offering something enticing to the victim in exchange for their personal information or actions. This can take the form of a free download, a USB drive left in a public place, or even a physical item delivered to the victim’s doorstep. Once the victim takes the bait, their security is compromised.

Quid Pro Quo

In a quid pro quo attack, the attacker offers a benefit or service to the victim in exchange for their sensitive information. For example, they may pose as a tech support agent and offer to fix a non-existent computer problem in exchange for the victim’s login credentials.

Tailgating

Tailgating, also known as piggybacking, is a physical social engineering attack. It involves an attacker following an authorized person into a restricted area by pretending to be with them. This can give the attacker unauthorized access to sensitive information or resources.