Social engineering is a form of cyber-security hacking that leverages the weakest point of any security system: the end user. Essentially, by appealing to an element of human psychology, a malicious actor gains access to personal, private, or business information, through what is termed "Social Engineering". There are different types of social engineering attacks, and some of them target particular individuals or groups. Here are some examples:
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Phishing: This is the most common type of social engineering attack, and it targets particular individuals and groups. Phishing scams aim to obtain personal information such as names, addresses, and Social Security Numbers.
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Spear-phishing: This type of social engineering threat targets a specific individual, such as a CEO or IT manager. They then use their information to gain access to sensitive data.
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Whaling: This is a type of spear-phishing that targets high-level executives, such as CEOs or CFOs.
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Pretexting: This type of social engineering attack involves creating a false pretext to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information.
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Baiting: This type of social engineering attack involves offering something enticing to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information.
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Honey Trap: This type of social engineering attack involves using a romantic or sexual relationship to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information.
To prevent being targeted by social engineering, it is important to study the methods, psychological triggers, and technological tools these attackers use. Scammers use many different types of social engineering attacks, but some common giveaways can help you spot and avoid them.
