Social engineering is a type of cybersecurity attack where attackers exploit human weaknesses and emotions to gain access to confidential information or systems. Instead of bypassing technical security measures, social engineering focuses on deceiving people through manipulation, fraud, and trickery.
Examples of social engineering attacks include phishing emails that ask users to provide their login credentials or other sensitive information, or attacks where the attacker pretends to be a trusted person or institution to gain confidence. Other examples involve using fake requests for information or assistance to gain system access, or using USB sticks or other devices to infiltrate systems via physical access to a computer or network.
Organizations can protect themselves against social engineering attacks through employee training and awareness programs that educate staff about the risks and techniques used by attackers. This can help identify suspicious activities and prevent employees from sharing information or granting access to systems to unauthorized individuals. Additionally, technical security measures such as multi-factor authentication and network segmentation can help prevent social engineering attacks.