5 Social Engineering scams you should know about!

It's essential for employees to be aware of social engineering for ensuring corporate cyber security and data protection. If end users know the main characteristics of these attacks, it's much more likely they can avoid falling for them. Here is a breakdown of 5 Social Engineering attacks you should know:

1. Phishing

The most common tactic used by today's ransomware hackers, typically delivered in the form of an email, web ad or website designed to impersonate a real system and organisation. The message within these emails often appears to be from the government or a major corporation, and they are often crafted to deliver a sense of urgency and importance.

2. Baiting

Like phishing, baiting involves offering something enticing to an end user in exchange for private data. The bait comes in many forms, both digital, such as a movie downloaded from a torrent site, or physical, such as a branded drive labelled "CELEBRITY HACKS" that is left out on a desk for an end user to find. Once the bait is taken, malicious software is delivered directly into the victim's computer.

3. Quid Pro Quo

Quid pro quo involves a request for the exchange of private data for a service or favour. For example, an employee might receive a phone call from the hacker posing as a technology expert offering free IT assistance in exchange for login credentials. Like baiting, this could be something physical, such as giving someone a gift in exchange for a service. The exchange needs to be of the same value.

4. Pretexting

This is when a hacker creates a false sense of trust between themselves and the end user by impersonating a co-worker, professional colleague, or a figure of authority within the company in order to gain access to private data. For example, a hacker may send an email or a chat message posing as the head of IT Support who needs private data in order to comply with a corporate audit (that isn't real).

5. Tailgating

An unauthorised person physically follows an employee into a restricted corporate area or system. The most common example of this is when a hacker calls out to an employee to hold a door open for them as they've forgotten their RFID card. Another example of tailgating is when a hacker asks an employee to "borrow" a private laptop for a few minutes, during which the criminal is able to quickly steal data or install malicious software.

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