Social Engineering
An exploration of how human psychology is exploited in hacking.
Summary of 5 Key Points
Key Points
- Understanding Social Engineering
- Psychological Principles in Hacking
- Non-Digital Social Engineering
- Techniques and Tools
- Prevention and Mitigation
key point 1 of 5
Understanding Social Engineering
Social engineering is the art of manipulating people so they give up confidential information. The types of information these criminals are seeking can vary, but when individuals are targeted the criminals are usually trying to trick you into giving them your passwords or bank information, or accessing your computer to secretly install malicious software that will give them access to your passwords and bank information as well as giving them control over your computer…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 5
Psychological Principles in Hacking
Psychological principles play a pivotal role in hacking, particularly in social engineering, a non-technical method used by hackers to manipulate people into divulging confidential information. The first principle, ‘reciprocity,’ is stimulated when a hacker offers help or provides a service to the target, invoking a sense of obligation to return the favor, often by revealing sensitive data. ..Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 5
Non-Digital Social Engineering
Non-Digital Social Engineering refers to the manipulation of individuals through personal interaction, exploiting human nature and psychological tendencies to gain unauthorized access to information or systems. It involves exploiting people’s tendency to trust, their desire to be helpful, or their fear of authority to manipulate them into providing confidential information. ..Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 5
Techniques and Tools
Social engineering techniques and tools refer to the methods used by cybercriminals to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. These techniques are often psychological in nature and exploit the inherent trust that people have in systems, processes, or individuals. This includes techniques such as phishing and baiting. Phishing is where attackers masquerade as a trustworthy person or organization in an attempt to gain sensitive information. Baiting, on the other hand, involves enticing individuals to give up their information willingly, often through the promise of goods or services…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 5
Prevention and Mitigation
Prevention and mitigation of social engineering are crucial because they involve techniques that manipulate people into giving away confidential information. They constitute a significant threat to the security of both individuals and organizations. To prevent social engineering attacks, one must adopt a proactive approach, which includes educating and training staff to recognize and resist these attacks. It involves raising awareness about the different forms of social engineering, including phishing, pretexting, and tailgating, and teaching employees how to respond when they encounter these tactics…Read&Listen More