What is Social Engineering? Working, Types, Prevention and Impact

Social Engineering is an umbrella term for multiple malicious activities done by cyber criminal over internet through human interaction.

It doesn't involve the use of technical hacking techniques. Attackers use psychology and manipulation to trick users into performing actions that could compromise with their security including downloading malicious files, revealing sensitive information, clicking on malicious links, make transactions to illegal sources etc. It includes range of attacks including Phishing, Baiting, Tailagting, Pretexting, Scareware etc. as they all exploit the human trust. Social engineering is often the first step of larger cyber attacks.

Purpose of Social Engineering Attacks

The purpose of social engineering attacks is typically to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal information. Attackers can use this information for identity theft, financial fraud, or other malicious purposes. Another purpose of social engineering attacks is to gain unauthorized access to secure areas or systems.

How do Social Engineering Attack Works? 

While social engineering attacks don't follow a fixed strategy, as attackers often adapt their tactics based on the victim, situation, and context, there are certain common elements that most social engineers employ. These key factors include:

1. Planning and Research

Before launching a social engineering attack, the attacker spends time gathering information. This phase is critical to the success of the attack. The attacker may collect publicly available information about the target through:

• Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter can reveal personal details, job roles, contacts, and interests.
• Company Websites: Details about employees, company structure, and operational processes can be found here.
• Public Records: Information like employee directories, email addresses, and phone numbers can be found on company websites or government databases.

This information helps the attacker craft a believable and tailored message, increasing the likelihood of success.

2. Creating a Convincing Pretext

The attacker develops a pretext, story designed to gain the trust of the victim. For example:

• Impersonation: The attacker might pose as a company executive, technical support, or a trusted colleague to ask for sensitive information or access.
• Urgency or Pressure: The attacker may create a sense of urgency to pressure the victim into acting quickly, such as claiming that immediate action is needed to fix a system issue or resolve an account problem.
• Familiarity: Attackers often use personal information about the target to make their approach seem more genuine (e.g., referencing the target’s recent social media posts or common connections).

The goal is to exploit the victim's natural tendency to trust familiar sources, especially in a work or personal context.

3. Engaging with the Victim

After the pretext is established, the attacker engages with the victim. The attack may take different forms:

• Phishing Emails: The attacker sends an email that appears legitimate, asking the victim to click on a malicious link or open an infected attachment. The email often includes a request for login credentials, sensitive data, or other confidential information.
• Phone Calls (Vishing): The attacker calls the victim, pretending to be from IT support or a trusted institution, and asks the victim to provide personal or financial information.
• SMS Messages (Smishing): The attacker sends a text message that mimics a legitimate service, prompting the victim to click on a malicious link or provide confidential information.

4. Exploiting the Trust

Once the victim responds, the attacker exploits the trust established through the pretext. This could involve:

• Stealing Information: The attacker may gather sensitive data like login credentials, financial information, or personal identifiers.
• Gaining Unauthorized Access: The attacker may trick the victim into granting access to critical systems, networks, or databases, either by clicking on a link, downloading malware, or entering login credentials.
• Installing Malware: In some cases, the attacker may convince the victim to download malware disguised as legitimate software or documents, which could then be used to access the victim’s system or data remotely.

5. Taking Advantage of the Information

After successfully obtaining the desired information or access, the attacker can:

• Perform Financial Fraud: Using stolen credentials or sensitive data, the attacker can make unauthorized financial transactions.
• Access Sensitive Systems: The attacker may now have the ability to breach more secure areas of the organization, often leveraging compromised accounts to move laterally through the network.
• Install Ransomware: If the attacker has gained access to critical systems, they may deploy ransomware to demand payment for decryption.
• Sell Stolen Data: The attacker may sell sensitive information, such as personal records, intellectual property, or financial data, on the dark web.

6. Covering Their Tracks

Social engineers are often skilled at erasing signs of their presence. After exploiting the victim, they may:

• Delete or Modify Logs: Attackers may delete communication logs or traces of malware to avoid detection.
• Use Encryption: The attacker may encrypt sensitive data to prevent the victim from accessing it or identifying the breach.

This stage ensures the attacker remains undetected for a longer period, allowing them to continue exploiting the situation or sell the data they have stolen.

Types of Social Engineering 

There are many different types of social engineering attacks, each of which uses a unique approach to exploit human weaknesses and gain access to sensitive information. Here are some of the types of attacks, include:

1. Phishing

Phishing is a type of social engineering attack that involves sending an email or message that appears to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, in an attempt to trick the recipient into revealing their login credentials or other sensitive information.

2. Baiting

Baiting is a type of social engineering attack that involves leaving a tempting item, such as a USB drive, in a public place in the hope that someone will pick it up and plug it into their computer. The USB drive is then used to infect the computer with malware.

3. Tailgating

Tailgating is a type of social engineering attack that involves following an authorized individual into a secure area, such as a building or data center, without proper authorization.

4. Pretexting

Pretexting is a type of social engineering attack that involves creating a false identity or situation in order to trick an individual into revealing sensitive information. For example, an attacker might pretend to be a customer service representative in order to trick an individual into giving them their login credentials.

5. Scareware

Scareware is when the victim is sent false messages claiming their system is infected with a malware, or outdated, suggesting them to download softwares to resolve the issue. Downloading the software would lead to the attackers gaining access to the system.

Prevention against Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering attacks rely on manipulating human psychology rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities, making it important for individuals to remain vigilant and proactive. Below are some strategies to adopt by an individual to prevent from falling victim to these attacks:

1. Avoid Opening Emails and Attachments from Suspicious Sources

Phishing emails often appear legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments designed to steal personal information or install malware. Always be cautious when receiving unsolicited emails, especially those requesting sensitive data or action.

• Check the sender's email address carefully.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments.
• Verify requests through alternative channels (e.g., by calling or messaging the official number).

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring more than just a password. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised.

• Enable MFA for critical accounts (e.g., email, banking, social media).
• Use authentication apps like Google Authenticator for added security.
• Enable biometric authentication where possible.

3. Beware of Tempting Baits

Cyber attackers often use enticing offers to lure victims into clicking malicious links or downloading infected files. Be cautious of "too good to be true" deals.

• Be wary of unsolicited offers, discounts, or free downloads.
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading files from unfamiliar sources.
• Always verify the legitimacy of offers before acting.

Impact Of Social Engineering Attack On Organization

Social engineering attacks can have severe consequences for organizations, as they exploit human behavior and manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. The impact of a successful social engineering attack can range from financial losses and data breaches to long-term reputational damage. This losses include:

1. Financial Losses

Competitors may utilize social engineering procedures to take touchy data, for example, advancement plans and advertising systems of an objective organization, which can result in a financial misfortune to the objective organization.

2. Harm to Goodwill

For an association, altruism is significant for drawing in clients. Social engineering assaults may harm that altruism by releasing touchy hierarchical information.

3. Loss of Privacy

Privacy is a major concern, especially for big organizations. If an organization is unable to maintain the privacy of its stakeholders or customers, then people can lose trust in the company and may discontinue the business association with the organization. Consequently, the organization could face losses.

4. Dangers of Terrorism

Terrorism and anti-social elements pose a threat to an organization’s assets- people and property. Terrorists may use social engineering techniques to make blueprints of their targets to infiltrate their targets.

5. Lawsuits and Arbitration

Lawsuits and arbitration result in negative publicity for an organization and affects the business’s performance.

6. Temporary or Permanent Closure

Social engineering attacks can result in a loss of goodwill. Lawsuits and arbitration may force a temporary or permanent closure of an organization and its business activities.

Conclusion

Social engineering attacks are one of the most dangerous cyber threats, as they target human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers manipulate individuals into performing actions that compromise security, such as revealing sensitive information, downloading malware, or granting unauthorized access. These attacks, including phishing, baiting, and pretexting, are often the first step in more extensive cyber attacks, making them particularly harmful.

The impact of a successful social engineering attack on an organization could lead to financial losses, harm to reputation, legal issues, and even the potential closure of the business. Protecting against such attacks requires a proactive approach, including being cautious of suspicious communications, enabling multi-factor authentication, and staying vigilant about tempting offers.

deepamanknp

Follow

Improve

Article Tags :

• GBlog
• TechTips
• Ethical Hacking