Social Engineering

Definition:

Social engineering is a type of cyberattack that relies on manipulating human behavior to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

Use Cases:

  • Used by attackers in phishing schemes to trick users into revealing login credentials or downloading malware.
  • Employed in spear phishing attacks to target high-value individuals within an organization.

Related Terms:

Questions and Answers:

  • How does social engineering work?
    Social engineering manipulates individuals by exploiting psychological triggers such as trust, fear, or urgency to convince them to reveal sensitive information or take harmful actions.

  • What are the common forms of social engineering attacks?
    Common forms include phishing (email-based), vishing (phone-based), pretexting, and baiting.

  • How can organizations prevent social engineering attacks?
    Organizations can prevent social engineering attacks by training employees to recognize suspicious behaviors, verifying requests for sensitive information, and using multi-factor authentication.
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