Social engineering attacks are a type of network attack that relies on manipulating people rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. These attacks can be difficult to detect and prevent because they rely on tricking individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. Some common types of social engineering attacks include:
- Phishing: This type of attack involves sending fake emails or messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, in an attempt to trick the recipient into revealing sensitive information or clicking on a malicious link. For example, an attacker might send an email purporting to be from a bank, asking the recipient to enter their login credentials on a fake website.
- Impersonation: In this type of attack, an attacker pretends to be someone else in order to gain access to sensitive information or resources. For example, an attacker might call a company’s customer service hotline and pretend to be an employee, asking for access to confidential information.
- Baiting: This type of attack involves offering something desirable in exchange for sensitive information or access. For example, an attacker might offer a free trial of a software product in exchange for the victim’s credit card information.
- Scareware: This type of attack involves tricking the victim into believing their computer is infected with malware and offering to sell them a fake solution.
- Pretexting: This type of attack involves creating a fake scenario or pretext in order to obtain sensitive information. For example, an attacker might call a victim pretending to be a government employee and ask for personal information in order to “verify their identity.”
It is important to be aware of these types of social engineering attacks and to be cautious when providing personal information or access to sensitive resources. Some tips for protecting against social engineering attacks include: being wary of unexpected emails or phone calls, verifying the identity of someone before providing sensitive information, and using strong passwords.