You get a call from someone claiming to be from your bank. They inform you that your account has been compromised and the hacker is actively draining your bank account. You begin to panic but they say that they can stop the deductions if you share your verification code, or OTP. Without a second thought, you hand it over to them in the hope that they can stop this cybercriminal. Unfortunately, they are the cybercriminal, and they have just successfully used social engineering to obtain your information.
Social engineering attacks have become commonplace today and we need to be aware of them so that we can prevent being the victim of the next attack. This article will provide tips to identify social engineering attacks, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you think you may be a target.
What is social engineering?
Social engineering is a manipulation technique used by cybercriminals to trick people into sharing sensitive information. It focuses on playing on your trust and empathy to gain access to your information instead of trying to hack into a system.
Trust your instincts. This may seem strange, but you may feel a sense of doubt when dealing with a scammer. Don’t ignore that feeling.
5 Types of common social engineering attacks you need to know
Understanding the different types of social engineering can be your first line of prevention. Here are five attacks to be aware of:
- Phishing: This is by far the most widely used attack. Hackers will send phishing emails to potential victims to get you to respond, click a link, or open a malicious attachment.
- Smishing: Hackers may use text messages containing malicious links to get you to respond and click the link.
- Vishing: Voice calls are often used to convince you that you are speaking to a legitimate person who is trying to help you resolve an issue, and IF you provide them with your personal information.
- Baiting: This tactic tries to lure you with something enticing like a “free” download, which then downloads the actual virus.
- Pretexting: The attacker will pose as someone important and attempt to convince you using plausible “facts” to provide your sensitive information. In most cases, you won’t even know that it was a scam until it’s too late.
10 Red flags to help you recognize these attacks
Social engineering attacks often follow specific patterns or tactics that can help us identify them sooner. Here are 10 red flags to look out for:
- Urgency and pressure: Attackers may create a sense of urgency, insisting that you need to act immediately. For example, you may receive an email with the subject header “Your account has been suspended” to get you to click a link.
- Spelling and grammar mistakes: If the message contains too many spelling mistakes, it’s sign that it’s probably not legitimate.
- Unknown sender: If you are unfamiliar with the sender or the URL does not look correct, it’s likely a scam. Always check the details against the official contact information or company name to be certain.
- Vague greetings: If a message begins with “Dear valued customer”, it’s probably a scam.
- An offer that is too good to be true: If you receive a message containing an unbelievable deal, it’s probably a scam. Remember that you can’t win the lottery if you’ve never played.
- Sharing your PIN: Under no circumstance will someone need you to share your password or your PIN with them. It’s a scam, report it immediately.
- Requests for sensitive information: Legitimate companies do not ask for sensitive information through unsolicited communications. Always check before providing any personal information.
- Playing on your empathy: In some instances, scammers may pretend to be in a crisis to trick you into providing someone else’s personal information.
- Over-familiarity: Some scammers may act overly familiar in the hope to catch you off-guard. They may use personal details that they found about you online to make the interaction feel legitimate.
- Helpfulness: Lastly, scammers will play on basic human kindness. They may have “forgotten” their access card or need help opening the door because they are carrying boxes – anything to try to gain access to a restricted area.
5 Steps to protect yourself from social engineering attacks
Recognizing the red flags is helpful, but it is essential to protect yourself against attacks by building layers of security around your accounts and devices. Here are five steps for you to get started:
- Use multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security to your account. If a hacker has your password, they will still be required to perform a second verification step to access your account.
- Don’t be afraid to ask: If someone asks for sensitive information, ask yourself if it is a typical request. Don’t be afraid to question motives, even if they seem legitimate.
- Stay updated: Educate yourself and those around you about any known scams. This will help you to quickly identify any requests related to the scam and prevent any malicious activity.
- Limit sharing on social media: Avoid sharing too much personal information online. Hackers can use these details to gather information about you to use as part of their attack.
- Trust your instincts. This may seem strange, but you may feel a sense of doubt when dealing with a scammer. Don’t ignore that feeling. Instead, use it to ensure that you are dealing with a legitimate person and that you are not becoming the next victim of a scam.
What to do if you suspect a social engineering attack
If you suspect that you are being targeted, follow these simple steps:
- Don’t respond immediately. Take a moment to assess the email to see if you can identify any red flags. Do some research on the contact details or call the company directly using their official contact information.
- Report suspicious communications. Don’t be afraid to report any phishing emails to your email provider or contact the organization directly. Most companies have dedicated security teams to deal with these issues and will provide feedback once their investigation is complete.
- Monitor your accounts. If you think that you may have been compromised, keep an eye on your bank accounts to check for any unusual activity such as unauthorized transactions, changes to your personal details, or authorization requests.
Continue your awareness journey
Staying alert and informed is a great way to protect yourself online and prevent potential social engineering attacks. You don’t have to be paranoid; you just need to be prepared.
The next time you receive an unexpected email, a strange phone call, or an urgent message, take a moment to gather your thoughts and verify the request before responding. It is far better to be cautious today instead of being regretful tomorrow. Be secure!
