Social engineering in cyber security means different types of malicious attacks in which various human interactions are involved. With the help of psychological manipulation, users are tricked into giving away confidential information by making mistakes.
Social engineering attacks can occur in multiple steps. The perpetrator first tries to collect the required information on security loopholes that can help access the system, application, or network. After that, the attacker tries to build a relationship of trust with the victim to break the security protocol and gain access to sensitive information and resources.
Social Engineering Attack Lifecycle
The social engineering can be dangerous because it involves human error. The vulnerabilities in operating systems and software do not have to do anything with it. Major mistakes by users cannot be predicted in advance, so it becomes hard to detect threats and take timely measures to mitigate risks.
Tactics of Social Engineering
There are different strategies for social engineering attacks and can be performed in various forms where human interaction is present. Here are some common tactics that you need to know.
Baiting
Baiting attacks involve a false promise to gain the trust of the victim. This strategy is used to trap users and steal confidential information that can be exploited to access the systems and infect them with malware. The most commonly used tactic of baiting involves physical media to inject malware. Attackers use flash drives containing malware as the bait to lure potential victims. This bait looks authentic and shows genuine information about the company. Victims pick such baits of curiosity and use these flash drives in their computing systems that affect the system with malware.
Baiting also occurs online, as malicious ads attract users to click on them, which takes them to suspicious websites. It encourages users to download the file with malware.
Pretexting
In this strategy, the attacker gets the information through a series of lies, and the perpetrator pretends to obtain the sensitive details from the victim to perform the critical task. To establish trust, the attacker can impersonate police, coworker, bank, or police officials. The pretext can ask questions that are required to know the victim’s identity by which they can get personal data. Attackers try to get the pertinent records that can be helpful in the scam. It includes home address, phone number, social security number, and bank account details.
Scareware
In this method, the victims have to deal with fictitious threats and false alarms. It is used to deceive users and make them believe that their system is infected with malware, so they must install software to fix their system. In reality, this software is malware that is used to infect the system and gain access to it.
One of the most common examples of scareware is the banners that appear on websites, which have text that shows your computer may be infected with harmful programs. Such ads offer you the option to install the tool or direct you to a suspicious website that can infect your computer. Scareware is distributed through spam emails that have false alarms or bogus warnings.
Phishing
Phishing scams lure the victims to provide confidential information by clicking malicious website links or opening online forms that have malware. In phishing scams, emails are sent to users related to policy violations that require immediate action, such as changing the password. It also includes forms that require the personal information of the users, so once they fill out the form, the information is sent to the attacker. Identical and near-identical messages are sent to victims.
Spear Phishing
This method is the advanced version of phishing, where attackers specifically choose their targets. They tailor their strategies according to the characteristics of the victims to make their attack look authentic. This method requires more effort, as it can take time to gather the required information of the victim.
Attackers usually pretend to be the company’s representative in spear phishing scams, and they send emails to that company’s employees. Such emails usually contain the exact wordings and contents that a representative normally uses. It makes it easier to deceive users so they can change their passwords. It also provides them with a link that can redirect them to a malicious website where attackers can get their passwords and other information.
Quid Pro Quo Attacks
An attacker that uses a quid pro quo assault provides a service or favor in return for important data or access. The attacker frequently poses as a technical assistance representative or expert and offers to assist in resolving a problem in exchange for private information like passwords or system access.
The victim gives the assailant vital information without realizing it since they think they are getting help. These attacks are a prevalent form of social engineering because they take advantage of human nature, specifically the willingness to reciprocate.
DNS Spoofing
Attacks known as DNS spoofing and cache poisoning entail altering Domain Name System (DNS) data to secretly reroute visitors to malicious websites. Attackers tamper with the DNS cache, causing it to hold inaccurate data. Users are sent to a phony website that mimics the real one when they enter a valid URL. Given that DNS is a fundamental internet mechanism, these attacks may have detrimental, far-reaching consequences.
Watering Hole Attack
Watering hole attacks compromise websites that a particular group visits regularly, hence targeting them. Attackers study the online behaviors of the target audience and plant harmful codes on reliable websites. Malware is installed on a victim’s device when they visit an infected website, giving the attacker access to private data or systems. This method is quite focused, frequently directed at businesses or sectors, and particularly successful since it makes use of the confidence that people have in reputable, well-known websites.
Prevention of Social Engineering
There are different ways that social engineers use to manipulate users. They create fear and curiosity to use schemes that can trap the victims easily. Therefore, users need to stay alert for false alarms or offers that randomly appear on websites. By staying alert and knowing about these scams, there is a better chance of staying safe from such attacks.
Do Not Open Suspicious Emails
You must beware of emails or attachments from suspicious sources. If the sender of the email is unknown to you, then you must not respond to the email in any case. Also, if the message seems suspicious or the news does not look authentic, you must cross-check to confirm it from the right resources. Email addresses are spoofed mostly, so you should not trust the user’s email ID. It is better to check it to ensure that you have the right message.
Do Not Trust Attractive Offers
You must not trust the tempting offers that you see online at any cost. Just search for the relevant offer online before making any decision so you do not fall into any trap.
Use Updated Antivirus
It is always handy to use an updated antivirus that can automatically detect any malware or suspicious activity. It scans the entire system for any infections, which helps keep your system secure.
Use Multifactor Authentication
Credentials are the most valuable information that attackers look to exploit. By using multifactor authentication, you can secure your account when your system compromises. It improves the security of your applications, so you do not have to worry about even when your system’s security is breached.
Characteristics of Social Engineering Attacks
Here are some common traits of social engineering attacks that attackers use to manipulate the feelings of victims and steal their valuable information.
Emotions
Social engineering attacks exploit emotions to manipulate victims into making impulsive decisions. Attackers often trigger feelings like fear, curiosity, excitement, or empathy. For example, a phishing email might create fear by warning the victim of account suspension, prompting them to act quickly. Emotional triggers bypass logical thinking, increasing the likelihood of compliance.
These attacks are effective because emotional responses can cloud judgment, causing individuals to disclose sensitive information, click malicious links, or unknowingly compromise security systems.
Urgency
Urgency is a key tactic in social engineering, compelling targets to act immediately without considering the risks. Attackers create time-sensitive scenarios, such as threatening deadlines or one-time offers, to pressure individuals into acting hastily.
For example, a scam email might demand immediate action to avoid legal consequences or financial loss. The sense of urgency prevents the victim from questioning the authenticity of the request.
Trust
Social engineering attacks also capitalize on trust, often impersonating familiar or authoritative figures to deceive targets. By pretending to be a trusted entity—such as a colleague, a service provider, or a government agency—attackers gain access to sensitive information or systems.
The victim is more likely to comply with requests when they believe they’re interacting with someone credible. Attackers often use techniques like spoofing emails or creating fake websites that resemble legitimate ones to enhance this trust, increasing the success of their schemes.
Examples of Social Engineering Attacks
Here are some common examples of social engineering attacks that victims experience, so knowing about these attacks will help you stay vigilant.
Worm Attacks
A form of social engineering hack known as a “worm attack” allows malicious software to replicate itself and propagate throughout networks without the need for direct human engagement. Worms, in contrast to conventional viruses, spread by taking advantage of holes in operating systems or programs.
Malware Link Delivery Channels
Malware link delivery channels are a type of social engineering technique where hackers deceive people into clicking malicious links that are typically included in emails, messages on social media, or web pages. These links have the potential to trigger the automated download of malware or send users to phishing websites that are set up to steal financial information or login credentials.
Blaming Users for Reported Attacks
A manipulative social engineering technique used by attackers and even peers to make victims feel guilty or ashamed of falling victim to a cyberattack is to shame infected users into not reporting an incident. The psychological strain causes the afflicted person to keep quiet to prevent humiliation or criticism from peers or superiors.
P2P Network Attacks
Attacks on peer-to-peer (P2P) networks make use of weaknesses in decentralized file-sharing systems where users communicate directly with one another over files. Cybercriminals infiltrate these networks with malware-filled files that seem like authentic information. Unaware individuals download these kinds of files, infecting their PCs.