Social engineering is a deception method that takes advantage of human error to obtain sensitive information, access, or assets. These “human hacking” scams in cybercrime tend to entice unwary individuals into disclosing data, spreading malware infections, or granting access to restricted systems. Attacks can occur online, in person, or through other contacts.
Social engineering scams are designed to exploit how individuals think and act. As a result, social engineering assaults are very effective in manipulating a user’s behaviour. Once an attacker learns what motivates a user’s activities, they can easily deceive and influence the user.
Furthermore, hackers attempt to take advantage of a user’s lack of expertise. Because of the rapid pace of technology, many customers and employees are unaware of hazards such as drive-by attack. Users may also underestimate the significance of personal information such as their phone number. As a result, many users are confused about how to effectively safeguard themselves and their data.
In general, social engineering attackers have one of two objectives:
Sabotage: The intentional disruption or corruption of data in order to cause harm or inconvenience.
Theft: Obtaining valuables such as knowledge, access, or money by deception.
Social Engineering Attack Types:
Social engineering is used in almost every sort of cybersecurity attack. The classic email and virus scams.
Social engineering can affect you digitally via mobile devices as well as desktop devices. However, you could be confronted with a threat in person as well. These assaults can overlap and pile on top of one another to form a fraud.
Here are some popular social engineering assault methods:
Attacks by Phishers
Phishing attackers act as trustworthy institutions or individuals in order to get you to reveal personal information and other assets.
Phishing attacks are directed in one of two ways:
Spam phishing, also known as mass phishing, is a massive attack that targets a large number of users. These attacks are impersonal and aim to catch any unwitting victim.
Spear phishing, and hence whaling, employ tailored information to target specific users. Whaling assaults target high-value targets such as celebrities, corporate management, and high-ranking government figures.
Anything you share, whether through direct dialogue or a phoney internet form, goes directly into the scammer’s pocket. You might even be tricked into downloading software containing the next stage of the phishing attempt.
Each phishing method has its own way of distribution, including but not limited to:
Voice phishing a.k.a vishing phone calls could be automated message systems that record all you say. A live person may occasionally speak with you to boost trust and urgency.
SMS phishing a.k.a smishing texts or mobile app messages may contain a web link or a suggestion to contact the sender via a bogus email address or phone number.
Email phishing is the most common type of phishing, in which you receive an email pushing you to respond or follow-up in another way. It is possible to employ web links, phone numbers, or virus attachments.
Angler phishing occurs on social media, with an attacker impersonating a reputable company’s customer support personnel. They intercept your communications with a brand in order to hijack and divert your conversation into private chats, where the attack is then advanced.
Phishing in search engines involves placing links to bogus websites at the top of search results. These could be sponsored advertisements or legal SEO strategies used to alter search ranks.
URL phishing links entice you to visit phishing websites. These links are frequently sent in emails, texts, social media communications, and online advertisements. Attackers use link-shortening tools or fraudulently worded URLs to disguise links in hyperlinked text or buttons.
Phishing in-session appears as an interruption to your normal web browsing. For example, you might see bogus login pop-ups for the pages you’re now viewing.
Attacks via Baiting
Baiting takes advantage of your inherent curiosity to entice you to expose yourself to an assailant. Typically, the manipulation utilised to abuse you is the opportunity for something free or exclusive. In most cases, the attack entails infecting you with malware.
Baiting methods that are popular include:
USB drives abandoned in public places such as libraries and parking lots.
Email attachments containing information on a free offer or bogus free software.
Physical Brute Force Attacks
Physical breaches include attackers physically appearing and impersonating as someone legitimate in order to get access to otherwise restricted places or information.
These types of attacks are most widespread in enterprise settings, such as governments, enterprises, or other organisations. Attackers may pose as a representative of a well-known and trusted provider for the company. Some assailants may be former employees with a grudge towards their former employer.
They conceal their identities while being credible enough to escape questioning. This needs some investigation on the part of the attacker and is high-risk. So, if someone is attempting this strategy, they’ve spotted a clear opportunity for a highly valuable payoff if they succeed.
Attacks on Pretext
Pretexting is the employment of a fake identity to generate confidence, such as directly impersonating a vendor or a facility employee. This strategy necessitates more proactive interaction with the enemy. Once they’ve convinced you that they’re authentic, the exploit begins.
Tailgating Attacks on Access
Tailgating, often known as piggybacking, is the act of following an authorized staff member into a restricted area. Attackers may use social etiquette to convince you to hold the door for them or that they are also authorized to be in the area. Pretexting can also be used in this situation.
Attacks on Quid Pro Quo
Quid pro quo is a phrase that loosely translates to “a favour for a favour,” and in the context of phishing, it refers to the exchange of your personal information in exchange for a reward or other remuneration. Giveaways or invitations to participate in research projects may expose you to this form of attack.
The exploit stems from getting you enthused about something useful that requires little investment on your part. However, the attacker merely takes your data and does not compensate you.
Attacks Using DNS Spoofing and Cache Poisoning
When you enter a legitimate URL, DNS spoofing causes your browser and web servers to navigate to malicious websites. Once infected with this exploit, the redirect will persist until the incorrect routing data is removed from the affected computers.
DNS cache poisoning attacks infect your device with routing instructions for the legitimate URL or many URLs, allowing you to connect to fake websites.
Scareware Infections
Scareware is a type of malware that is designed to scare you into doing an action. This malicious software generates scary messages that disclose bogus virus infections or claim that one of your accounts has been compromised.As a result, scareware forces you to purchase bogus cybersecurity software or provide personal information such as your account passwords.
Watering Hole Assaults
Watering hole attacks infect famous websites with malware, affecting a large number of people at once. Finding holes in specific sites necessitates significant planning on the part of the attacker. They search for previously unknown and unpatched vulnerabilities; such flaws are referred to as zero-day exploits.
In other instances, they may discover that a site’s infrastructure has not been upgraded to address recognized concerns. Website owners may choose to postpone software upgrades in order to maintain software versions that they know are stable. They’ll make the transition once the newest version has demonstrated system stability. Hackers take use of this behaviour to exploit previously patched vulnerabilities.
