Social engineering is a category of network threats that exploits psychology and manipulation to gain unauthorized access to information or systems. These attacks rely on deceiving individuals or groups of people to reveal sensitive , perform certain actions, or compromise security measures. Common social engineering network threats include phishing, which involves sending deceptive emails or messages that appear legitimate but are designed to trick recipients into revealing information like login credentials or financial details.
Spear phishing is a targeted form of phishing where attackers customize their messages for specific or organizations. They often gather personal information to make the emails more convincing. In vishing, or voice phishing, attackers make phone calls to trick individuals into revealing sensitive over the phone, such as credit card numbers or login credentials. Pretexting involves creating a fabricated scenario to manipulate individuals into providing information, while baiting attacks offer something enticing, like a free download, to lure victims into unwittingly malware.
To defend against social engineering attacks, organizations should focus on user training to educate users about the various tactics and how to recognize suspicious requests. Implementing advanced email filtering and spam detection can reduce attempts, while enabling multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security. It is essential to limit access to sensitive information to authorized personnel only and to develop incident response plans to swiftly address security breaches. Establishing verification protocols for individuals requesting sensitive information is also crucial in mitigating the risks of social engineering.
Keywords
individuals | human | phishing | information | confidential | information | installing |
