What is social engineering? In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to steal valuable information from individuals and organizations. One of the most effective tactics they use is social engineering. Social engineering is the act of manipulating people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that are not in their best interests. In this article, we will explore what social engineering is, how it works, and how you can protect yourself from it. Understanding Social Engineering Types of Social Engineering Social engineering can take many forms, from phishing emails to pretexting phone calls. The most common types of social engineering attacks include: Phishing Phishing attacks are one of the most common social engineering tactics. In a phishing attack, a criminal will send an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or an online retailer. The email will typically ask the recipient to click on a link and enter their personal information, such as their login credentials or credit card number. Once the victim enters this information, the criminal can use it to steal their identity or commit fraud. Pretexting Pretexting is another common social engineering tactic. In a pretexting attack, the criminal will create a fake scenario to gain the victim’s trust. For example, the criminal may pretend to be a bank employee and ask the victim to verify their account information. Once the victim provides this information, the criminal can use it for fraudulent purposes. Baiting Baiting attacks involve the criminal offering the victim something of value, such as a free USB drive or a gift card, in exchange for their personal information. Once the victim takes the bait, the criminal can use their personal information for malicious purposes. Scareware Scareware attacks involve the criminal creating fake security alerts or pop-up messages to scare the victim into taking action. For example, the victim may be told that their computer is infected with a virus and instructed to download a fake antivirus program. Once the victim downloads the program, the criminal can use it to steal their personal information. Goals of Social Engineering The ultimate goal of social engineering attacks is to obtain valuable information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data. Criminals can use this information for a variety of purposes, including identity theft, fraud, or espionage. Social engineering attacks can also be used to gain access to secure systems or networks, allowing criminals to steal intellectual property or conduct other nefarious activities. Common Social Engineering Tactics To protect yourself from social engineering attacks, it is important to be aware of common tactics that criminals use. Phishing To protect against phishing attacks, you should: Always verify that the sender is legitimate before providing any personal information Use anti-phishing software to block know

1. What is social engineering?
ByCyber Security Expert
DEC 20, 2022 #Baiting, #Best practices to protect against social engineering, #Common Social
Engineering Tactics, #Goals of Social Engineering, #Identifying Social Engineering Attacks,
#Phishing, #Pretexting, #Scareware, #Social Engineering and Cybersecurity, #Types of Social
Engineering, #Understanding Social Engineering, #What is social engineering?
I. Introduction A. Definition of social engineering B. Examples of social engineering attacks II.
Understanding Social Engineering A. Types of Social Engineering B. Goals of Social
Engineering III. Common Social Engineering Tactics A. Phishing B. Pretexting C. Baiting D.
Scareware IV. Social Engineering and Cybersecurity A. Identifying Social Engineering Attacks B.

2. Best practices to protect against social engineering V. Conclusion A. Recap of social
engineering B. Importance of awareness
Table of Contents
​ What is social engineering?
​ Understanding Social Engineering
​ Types of Social Engineering
​ Phishing
​ Pretexting
​ Baiting
​ Scareware
​ Goals of Social Engineering
​ Common Social Engineering Tactics
​ Phishing
​ Pretexting
​ Baiting
​ Scareware
​ Social Engineering and Cybersecurity
​ Identifying Social Engineering Attacks
​ Best practices to protect against social engineering
​ Conclusion
​ FAQs
What is social engineering?
In the digital age, criminals have found new ways to steal valuable information from individuals
and organizations. One of the most effective tactics they use is social engineering. Social
engineering is the act of manipulating people into divulging confidential information or
performing actions that are not in their best interests. In this article, we will explore what social
engineering is, how it works, and how you can protect yourself from it.
Understanding Social Engineering

3. Types of Social Engineering
Social engineering can take many forms, from phishing emails to pretexting phone calls. The
most common types of social engineering attacks include:
Phishing
Phishing attacks are one of the most common social engineering tactics. In a phishing attack, a
criminal will send an email that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or an
online retailer. The email will typically ask the recipient to click on a link and enter their personal
information, such as their login credentials or credit card number. Once the victim enters this
information, the criminal can use it to steal their identity or commit fraud.
Pretexting
Pretexting is another common social engineering tactic. In a pretexting attack, the criminal will
create a fake scenario to gain the victim’s trust. For example, the criminal may pretend to be a
bank employee and ask the victim to verify their account information. Once the victim provides
this information, the criminal can use it for fraudulent purposes.
Baiting
Baiting attacks involve the criminal offering the victim something of value, such as a free USB
drive or a gift card, in exchange for their personal information. Once the victim takes the bait, the
criminal can use their personal information for malicious purposes.
Scareware
Scareware attacks involve the criminal creating fake security alerts or pop-up messages to
scare the victim into taking action. For example, the victim may be told that their computer is
infected with a virus and instructed to download a fake antivirus program. Once the victim
downloads the program, the criminal can use it to steal their personal information.

4. Goals of Social Engineering
The ultimate goal of social engineering attacks is to obtain valuable information, such as login
credentials, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data. Criminals can use this information for a
variety of purposes, including identity theft, fraud, or espionage. Social engineering attacks can
also be used to gain access to secure systems or networks, allowing criminals to steal
intellectual property or conduct other nefarious activities.
Common Social Engineering Tactics
To protect yourself from social engineering attacks, it is important to be aware of common tactics
that criminals use.
Phishing
To protect against phishing attacks, you should:
● Always verify that the sender is legitimate before providing any personal information
● Use anti-phishing software to block known phishing sites and emails
Pretexting
To protect against pretexting attacks, you should:
● Never provide personal information over the phone or via email unless you are certain of
the identity of the requester
● Verify the legitimacy of any requests for personal information before providing it
Baiting
To protect against baiting attacks, you should:
● Never accept free gifts or items from strangers, especially if they ask for personal
information in exchange
● Be wary of unsolicited emails or messages that offer free items or downloads

5. Scareware
To protect against scareware attacks, you should:
● Always use legitimate antivirus software and keep it up to date
● Be skeptical of pop-up messages or alerts that claim your computer is infected with a
virus
Social Engineering and Cybersecurity
Social engineering attacks are a major threat to cybersecurity. To protect against these attacks,
it is important to take a proactive approach. Here are a few best practices to help you protect
yourself:
Identifying Social Engineering Attacks
The first step in protecting against social engineering attacks is to be able to identify them. Here
are some signs that an email, message, or phone call may be a social engineering attack:
● The sender or requester is unknown or suspicious
● The message or request is urgent or creates a sense of panic
● The message contains misspellings or grammatical errors
● The message contains a request for personal information or asks you to perform an
action that seems unusual
Best practices to protect against social
engineering
To protect against social engineering attacks, you should:
● Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible
● Regularly back up your data to protect against loss or theft
Conclusion

6. By understanding how these attacks work and taking steps to protect yourself, you can reduce
your risk of becoming a victim. Remember to be vigilant, always verify requests for personal
information, and use strong security practices to protect your data.
FAQs
● To protect yourself from social engineering attacks, you should be aware of common
tactics, use strong and unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, keep your
software up to date, and back up your data regularly.