There are different types of cyber-attacks being commenced by different kinds of cybercriminals. Some use a sophisticated virus or malware to infiltrate the security systems of organizations and gain access while others deploy spyware or other related tools to gain access to sensitive information. The point is that there are almost as many ways of attack and types of cyber attackers present to gain access to the security infrastructure of businesses and organizations as one can think of.
But there is a specified type of cybercriminals that use the most innate or otherwise deceptive way of infiltrating the security systems of every organization by manipulating and using human psychology to their advantage. This is called social engineering, and the attacks are known as social engineering attacks. These are a little different from the suspect that easily or differentiate from the other common initiatives of cyber activists and illicit hackers. Today we will be discussing various types of social engineering attacks that require a different level of alertness and on spot action prevailing to the type or nature of social engineering attack used by the attackers;
Phishing
Phishing is undoubtedly the most common of the social engineering attacks being commenced by cybercriminals around the world. The motive of the attack remains the same, which is to gain access to the personal or other sensitive information of the user for manipulation, but the way of pursuing this goal can be different. Following the basic set of techniques are implemented during the execution of a cyber-attack;
- Talking the target into giving away their personal information such as name, address, or social security number.
- Present the target with malicious links or ads that lead to misleading or malicious websites and try to engage the target into other phishing oriented websites or links.
- Using a tone of serious urgency or suggesting the target into responding quickly to the new set of information provided by the attacker and cooperate with them thoroughly or otherwise, there will be serious consequences to bear.
Email oriented phishing attacks are no different than actual phishing voice calls, messages, or other sources of communication. The only strategy that can be played here to counterfeit the ramifications of the phishing attack is not to play the games of the attacker or pretender at all. If this were this urgent, then an official representative of a dedicated organization would have contacted or directly reached out to you.
If the mode of communication doesn't seem legit or official, then don't engage with such sources at all. The best way to counterfeit this attack is to increase the network security training of your employees and emphasize the consistent continuation of this practice as well.
Baiting
Baiting or luring the clients or the buyers into unethical schemes or plots is another way of social engineers to claim personal or financial information of the victim. It is, in fact, in so many ways similar to a phishing attack. However, there is a slight difference there, such as in events of a phishing attack, nothing is promised in return for the cooperation of the user, but in case of baiting a reward or something sensational is promised by the attacker. For example, the users could be asked to submit their login credentials or details in return for access to free music or movies.
Similarly, if you are talked into completing a few surveys in return for access to a particular type of content, music, or movies anytime on the internet, then you are most likely targeted by the baiting attack, and you will most definitely get nothing in return because it is a bait. The only thing you will be doing is helping the manipulators earning revenue by completing surveys and watching ads for them.
Quid Pro Quo
Quid Pro Quo, as you know, is asking for something in return for a favor or a service done for the user. It is you can say an advanced or remastered form of baiting. Like others listed above, it is a type of social engineering attack. In this particular attack, the attacker might pose like a helper or a lending hand to help you through, e.g., a simple process of putting up for the social security card application only for the sake of committing identity theft.
Many attackers might regulate or knit multiple websites to aid the users in completing the application process for an event or service that involves using any personal or financial information. You will be amazed to know that 7 out of 10 targets fall for this attack than any other type of social engineering attack because it takes into account the more innate psyche of human trust.
Tailgating
Tailgating is not a sophisticated form of social engineering attack as the others being listed here, but it is effective, and there is no doubt in that. Tailgating refers to posing or disguising as an officer or member of a service such as a mailman, security guard, or any other designation to gain access and to infiltrate into a building or secured facility.
E.g., if a mailman just entered a building and left their truck on, then you could disguise as a mailman, imitate to come out of the truck, and ask any person or employee exiting the building to hold the door for you. This way, you will enter the building without any hindrance, and no one will be the wiser.
But this social engineering attack is the most challenging to pull off because of the risk of giving away the appearance and physical traits of the illicit attacker.
Pretexting
Pretexting is a heightened form of social engineering attack because it lures or misleads the victim into giving away their personal information in the event of a fabricated scenario. E.g., you will be asked to provide sensitive information to comply with the latest changes in the terms and conditions of a website or service or to authenticate the identity of the user.
Many victims fall prey on this attack because, according to them, nothing looked out of the ordinary, or the person over the phone sounded extremely trusting.
All the potential scenarios of social engineering listed above are ferociously dangerous and can cause a lot of problems for the victims. Hence, the best way to steer clear of these is to avoid any point of contact with the attacker and disregard any insensitive or potentially fake-looking information.