Social Engineering: Uncovering the Human Element of Hacking

Social Engineering: What Is It? Human Behaviour and the Technology Scam

It’s well known that when it comes to cybersecurity, people are the weakest link. Many cybercriminals use social engineering to support their hacking attempts and gather useful information in order to exploit that vulnerability. To obtain relevant information, social engineers seek people rather than technology.

Hollywood usually exalts the cunning con guy for his charm and deceit. In the film “Catch Me If You Can,” Leonardo DiCaprio plays a teenage Frank Abegnale, a notorious con man who used a variety of guises, including airline staff, a lawyer and others, to conduct fraud and cheque forgery. Later, Abegnale employed his skills to work as a security consultant.

The con is brought into the digital age by social engineering. Instead than relying on interpersonal contacts to establish trust and persuade users to take particular activities, social engineering takes advantage of people’s ignorance of digital tools and eagerness to share on online forums. The final result is the same: psychological duress that prompts the disclosure of private information.

Definition of Social Engineering

Social engineering describes techniques used by hackers to win over an end user’s trust and get information that will allow them to access systems or data. In order to trick people into providing information like passwords or personal information, social engineering often includes posing as authorised company representatives.

An email, text message, or phone call may be used in social engineering. Social engineers, often known as “human hackers,” frequently pose as tech help or bank staff in order to trick people into disclosing information.

What is the process of social engineering?

Hackers create several strategies to aid in their attempts at social engineering. Most social engineering assaults proceed in the following way:

• Investigate the subject. The goal of social engineering is to persuade a user that you are a reliable organisation. By presenting readily available information, like a phone number or birthday, as proof of their legitimacy, social engineers frequently try to build rapport. Most of this data is readily accessible to the public, and social engineers frequently comb social media for this kind of sensitive information.
• contact the target directly. Direct contact is made between the offender and the victim. The data that social engineers have obtained is used to verify their false identities. The target is then prompted to submit private data that the hacker can use against them.
• Attack. Social engineers commence their attack using the information they have stealthily acquired. This could entail obtaining passwords to enter systems, performing a classic case of stolen identity or putting the information to use for personal or political gain.

Social engineering history

The practise of social engineering is centuries old. People who want to profit from information have existed as long as there has been information to be desired.

Dutch businessman J.C. Van Marken coined the phrase “social engineering” in 1894. Van Marken argued that in addition to addressing technical issues, experts were also required to address human ones. Edward L. Earp wrote Social Engineer in 1911 to persuade readers to treat interpersonal interactions the same way they treat machines.

Social engineering is now a term used to describe the act of tricking individuals in order to gather important information, which is frequently followed by a cyberattack.

Here are a few of the most well-known instances of social engineering in cybersecurity.

Vulnerable Data Breach

More than 110 million customers were the targets of a social engineering scheme against Target in 2013. An HVAC business that had remote access to Target’s network was subjected to social engineering tactics. Malware was then used to hack the HVAC company, infecting Target’s systems. Emails, names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit and debit card information were all lost as a result of the attack.

Security Breaches at Yahoo

Information about Yahoo email users was hacked by two attacks in 2013 and 2014. Spear-phishing was used to carry out the second attack, which was directed at a Yahoo engineer. As a result of the person falling for the trap, hackers now have access to the person’s name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and passwords. Additionally, this vulnerability provided hackers unfettered access to user accounts without password.

CIA assault

John Brennan, director of the CIA, had his protected emails compromised by a 15-year-old. Kane Gamble impersonated Brennan by persuading Verizon to provide him personal information through the use of social engineering. With the help of the information she had obtained, Gamble was able to access Brennan’s email and alter the security questions and passwords, giving the 15-year-old access to private military data.

Social engineering techniques

The phrase “social engineering” refers to a broad range of information-gathering tactics that hackers use.

• Baiting: A social engineering technique known as baiting is luring the user with a free gift in order to get them to click on a link. This could take the shape of a free music or movie download that is tailored to the user’s preferences. The unwary victim clicks the link, which infects them with malware.
• Phishing: Phishing is a form of social engineering assault that involves using email, phone, or text to persuade a victim to click on a dangerous link. The message appears to have come from a reliable source who is related to the user. When a consumer clicks on the malicious link, their computer or gadget gets infected with malware, and frequently their data is compromised.
• Pretexting: The term “social engineering” is more frequently used to describe this strategy. Pretexting is when someone pretends to be a member of a reputable company in order to obtain confidential information. Before making contact with the target, this social engineering strategy significantly relies on research.
• Quid Pro Quo: A baiting version, the quid pro quo attack. The quid pro quo assault, also referred to as the “something for something” social engineering tactic, entails promising a service or benefit in exchange for agreeing to an attacker’s demands. For instance, a social engineer might promise a consumer a free software upgrade to persuade them to download malware instead.
• Reverse social engineering is a type of social engineering strategy in which the attacker first persuades the target that they have a problem or issue before offering a remedy. The target then contacts the social engineer, thinking that they can help them with their issue.
• Tailgating is a form of physical assault that uses social engineering. With tailgating, a hacker follows an authorised employee into the office and uses their credentials to gain access to restricted areas of the business. In these situations, the social engineer frequently impersonates a worker or even a delivery person.
• Whaling and Spear Phishing are two examples of phishing attempts that are particularly difficult to detect because they are targeted at a particular person. These individuals are well-known personalities who frequently hold executive or other senior positions in whaling attacks.

How to Protect Yourself from Social Engineering

End-user training is the most effective method of defence against social engineering attacks. It is crucial to teach your staff how to spot social engineering techniques and stay away from them.

The following information will support your training efforts.

• Any shady calls, emails, or texts should be investigated.
• Only open attachments from reliable sources.
• Any emails or messages requesting passwords or personally identifiable information (PII), such as social security numbers or bank details, should be deleted right away.
• Do not click on any links in emails that offer rewards or winning notifications.
• Only download software from trusted sources.
• Be sceptical of pleas for assistance that are made in a hurry.
• Make sure your device is running antivirus software and spam filters.
• When in doubt, confirm any requests for technology with IT.

What Sets Ransomware Apart From Other Types of Malware, Social Engineering, Phishing, and Social Engineering?

Malware, phishing, ransomware, and social engineering are all examples of malicious cyberattacks.

• The phrase “malware,” which is derived from the words “malicious” and “software,” is used to refer to a wide range of software designed to compromise systems, steal sensitive information, or gain unauthorised access to a network.
• Malware known as ransomware uses a variety of techniques to encrypt your data, render it inaccessible, or prevent you from accessing a certain system or device. After then, the attackers demand a ransom to restore your access.
• In contrast, social engineering is a technique that uses human manipulation to extract sensitive information. Social engineering is the practise of connecting with users while posing as a reputable company in order to obtain sensitive data like account numbers or passwords.
• Phishing is a type of social engineering that uses unreliable websites, phones, emails, and texts. The information gathered is used in both cases to gain access to secured accounts or data.

Even if our guide serves as an introduction to the dangers of social engineering, this is by no means a complete list. Attacks are becoming more complex, and both social engineering and the cybersecurity industry are constantly changing. The best defence against cyberattacks is to keep up with the most recent ones.