Social engineering is a critical cybersecurity threat where deception is used to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information. Tactics like phishing, pretexting, and baiting are just the tip of the iceberg. As you read on, learn to identify these methods and discover effective strategies to shield against these covert attacks.
Published in
9 min readApr 4, 2024
Key Takeaways
- Social engineering attacks exploit human vulnerabilities to manipulate people into revealing confidential information or performing security-compromising actions, using techniques like phishing, baiting, pretexting, and tailgating.
- Defensive measures against social engineering include using comprehensive internet security software, regular updates, robust authentication protocols, cultivating security awareness and skepticism towards suspicious communication, and controlling one’s digital footprint to limit information exposure.
- Real-world incidents involving reputable companies and government agencies illustrate the effectiveness of social engineering, stressing the need for continuous vigilance, employee education, and advanced security solutions like WAFs and DMARC to thwart such attacks.