Social engineering involves exploiting human psychology to deceive individuals into releasing sensitive information without knowing.
Hackers use emotions like trust, fear, greed, and curiosity to manipulate people and gain access to valuable information.
Popular social engineering tactics include phishing, spear phishing, vishing, smishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating.
Real-life examples like the Twitter Hack in 2020 and the Target Breach in 2013 highlight the dangers of social engineering.
To defend against social engineering, individuals should be cautious of unsolicited messages, never give out passwords, and verify URLs.
Organizations can combat social engineering by training staff, utilizing email filters, implementing access controls, and monitoring for suspicious activity.
Awareness and education are key defenses against social engineering attacks that rely on human error.
Understanding the tactics and examples of social engineering is crucial to staying vigilant and protecting against cyber threats.
By being alert, questioning everything, and educating others, individuals and organizations can strengthen their security posture.