Social Engineering
1. Human-Centric Threats
Social Engineering is the art of manipulating human trust to bypass technical security barriers. Instead of writing complex exploits, hackers trick people into opening doors, installing malware, or resetting credentials.
Attackers exploit emotional triggers: Urgency (you must act now), Authority (posing as a high-level executive or IT Support), Scarcity (limited time offers), and Fear (legal threats).
2. Types of Social Engineering
• Vishing: Telephone scams designed to extract corporate data, common in banking fraud.
• Tailgating (Piggybacking): Physically following an authorized employee into a secured office building without scanning credentials.
• Baiting: Leaving infected USB drives or software downloads labeled with intriguing titles (e.g., "HR Salaries 2026") in public spots, waiting for someone to plug them in.
• Stop and Verify: If a request feels suspicious, contact the sender via an official, independent communication channel to confirm.
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