One of the most dangerous cyber threats your business will face is social engineering. Unlike other attacks, this insidious tactic is able to entirely bypass most traditional security measures, leaving you entirely vulnerable. This makes it the most valuable tool in a cybercriminal’s kit – and your biggest nightmare.
Unfortunately, the term is also quite unclear, making it difficult to even understand what you should be doing to prevent these cyber-attacks. So what is a social engineering scam? How do they work – and most importantly, how can you stop them when traditional cyber security doesn’t work?
What is Social Engineering in Cyber Security?
What makes social engineering so dangerous is its ability to bypass the fundamental security measures that most businesses rely on. But how does it achieve this? The answer is surprisingly simple. Instead of using programs or other technological tricks, social engineering scams exploit the most vulnerable part of your company: the people. They are designed to prey upon human nature, taking advantage of any perceived weaknesses to accomplish their goals.
Social engineering can take many forms, making detection and prevention even more difficult. But there is good news – many of these attacks rely on the same basic principles. This means that, as long as those root tactics are addressed, it is possible to stop this scam.
Need more information? Speak to an IT consultant
Types of Social Engineering Tactics
What is Phishing in Social Engineering?
Phishing is the form in which you are most likely to experience an attack – and in fact, you likely already have. This technique involves fraudulent communications such as emails, phone calls, or SMS messages. The goal is typically to convince staff to give up login credentials or install malware.
Some common phishing scams include:
- Spear Phishing: Targeted attacks on specific individuals or organizations.
- Whaling: Phishing attempts aimed at high-profile executives.
- Smishing & Vishing: Phishing conducted via SMS (smishing) or voice calls (vishing).
What is Pretexting in Social Engineering?
Pretexting is the creation of a fabricated scenario to manipulate victims into revealing sensitive information. Threat actors may impersonate authority figures such as police officers, company executives, or IT staff to establish credibility and gain trust.
What is Tailgating in Social Engineering?
Tailgating, or piggybacking, is a physical form of social engineering where an attacker gains access to a restricted area by following an authorised individual. They may ask staff to hold the door open for them, pretending to be a legitimate employee. Many will not even think to question this, making it highly effective.
What is Baiting in Social Engineering?
Baiting entices victims to interact with something malicious, such as a malware-riddled USB drive labelled “Confidential” and left in a company parking lot. Unlike many social engineering scams, which rely on negative emotions such as fear, baiting is designed to induce positive feelings.
What is an Example of Social Engineering?
Here are some examples of social engineering techniques:
- An attacker pretends to be a delivery person, waiting for an employee to open a secure door. They then enter before the door closes.
- A “support technician” calls an employee, claiming there is an issue with their account and persuading them to provide a password.
- An employee receives an email from someone pretending to be their CEO and asking for funds.
- Someone reaches out offering free access to useful software, in exchange for information.
Defensive Measures
Some ways you can protect your business include:
- Access Controls: Staff should only have access to the data and accounts necessary for their roles. Multi-factor authentication will help ensure that even if login credentials are successfully stolen, threat actors cannot access accounts.
- Physical Security: Physical security measures such as CCTV and guards should be implemented where possible.
- Email Security: Use email filters and other built-in measures, to prevent phishing scams from reaching inboxes.
- Outsourcing: Managed service providers can monitor for threats and implement security solutions for you.
The Importance of Employee Training
Your most essential defence against social engineering tactics is employee training. This addresses the main vulnerability these attacks exploit, making them far less likely to succeed. Topics should include:
- How to identify phishing emails and other scam tactics.
- The importance of verifying identities before sharing sensitive information.
- Best practices for handling unknown links, attachments, and devices.
- Company protocols for granting access to company premises and data.
- How to report an incident.
Larger training sessions should take place at least one or two times a year, with smaller refresher courses sprinkled throughout. This will help keep security at the forefront of your team’s minds, making them less likely to become complacent.
My Employee Fell for a Social Engineering Scam – What Now?
Social engineering fraud is becoming extremely advanced due to technological advancements such as deep fakes. This means that even with the best training, mistakes can still happen. If an employee falls victim to a scam, take these steps:
- Disconnect: Instruct the victim to disconnect any affected devices from the network.
- Secure Accounts: Change compromised passwords and tighten access controls.
- Investigate the Breach: Identify what data or systems may have been accessed.
- Educate the Team: Use the incident as a learning opportunity to reinforce awareness and prevention measures.
It is important not to be too harsh on the employee who fell victim to the attack. If staff believe they will be punished for reporting potential threats, they will be less likely to do so in future. A gentle approach can be safer for your business in the long run.
Strengthen Your Human Defences
Social engineering is one of the most effective ways that threat actors can cause data breaches, operational disruptions, and financial hardship. If left unchecked it can cause severe damage to your reputation, profits, and efficiency. But it is not impossible to prevent. Sufficient employee education, supported by other defensive measures, will allow you to significantly reduce your risk of experiencing a social engineering attack. The more vigilant your team is, the safer your business will be.
Employee training requires an enormous time investment. If this sounds like too much, the experts at iCare Cyber can help. We understand that education can be difficult to prioritise when a thousand other concerns need your attention first. Your staff are your first and most important line of defence – shouldn’t they have the best training possible? Discover expert cyber security awareness training now.
FAQs
While phishing happens through email, "Smishing" is social engineering that happens via SMS (text messages). Hackers send a text to your mobile phone, often pretending to be from a trusted source like Australia Post, Linkt, or your bank. They use "urgency" to make you click a link quickly—for example, telling you that a package is waiting, or your account is locked. Because we tend to trust our text messages more than our emails, smishing is becoming one of the most successful ways hackers steal login details.
Pretexting is when a hacker creates a fake identity to trick you. They often use LinkedIn or Facebook to gather information about your company before they ever contact you. To handle this properly, you should:
Limit Public Details: Avoid posting photos of your office ID badge or your desk, as hackers can zoom in to see software names or internal codes.
Check Mutual Friends: If a "new employee" or "industry expert" adds you, check if you have real-world connections in common before accepting.
Verify the Voice: If someone contacts you claiming to be a coworker, try to message them on a different, known platform to confirm it is actually them.
Yes, this is called "Vishing" (Voice Phishing). A hacker might call your office pretending to be from "Microsoft Tech Support" or even your own company’s IT department. They often use background noise, like office sounds, to make the call seem real. They will try to convince you to download a "repair tool" which is a virus or ask you to read back a security code sent to your phone. Remember: a legitimate IT provider will almost never call you out of the blue and ask for your password or a security code.
Social engineering isn't always digital; sometimes it happens at your office door. "Tailgating" is when an unauthorized person follows an employee into a secure area. To prevent this, your team should be trained to:
Avoid Holding the Door: It feels polite to hold the door for someone with their hands full, but everyone should use their own key card.
Report Strangers: If you see someone in the office without a visitor badge, kindly ask if they need help finding the reception desk.
Secure the Server Room: Ensure that high-risk areas have extra locks that require a second code or a different key.
Yes, "Deepfakes" are a new and dangerous tool for social engineers. Using Artificial Intelligence, hackers can now create a video or an audio recording that looks and sounds exactly like your CEO or a high-level manager. They might send a video message or join a brief Zoom call asking for an "urgent" wire transfer. If you ever receive an unusual request for money or data—even if it looks and sounds like someone you know—you should always call that person back on a trusted number to verify the request before acting.