Social Engineering Attacks: The Subtle Threat to Cybersecurity

As per the Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2024, half of businesses (50%) and a third of charities (32%) experienced a Cyber Security breach in the past year. The frequency is higher for medium (70%) and large businesses (74%), as well as high-income charities (66%). A large portion of these breaches arises from Social Engineering Attacks, where attackers deceive users into disclosing sensitive information to gain access to systems. Since these attacks heavily rely on human errors rather than technical flaws, they are extremely dangerous.   

Let’s uncover top 14 Social Engineering Attacks that help you spot these tactics, thereby protecting yourself from major losses.   

Table of Contents  

1) What is Social Engineering?  

2) 14 Common Social Engineering Attacks  

a) Baiting   

b) Phishing Attacks   

c) Scareware   

d) Pretexting   

e) Spear Phishing   

f) Whaling   

g) Watering Hole Attacks   

h) Diversion Theft   

i) Honeytrap   

j) Quid Pro Quo   

k) DNS Spoofing / Cache Poisoning   

l) Physical Breaches and Tailgating   

m) Business Email Compromise (BEC)   

n) Smishing (SMS Phishing)   

3) Conclusion  

What is Social Engineering?  

Social Engineering is a strategy attackers use to trick people into sharing private information like passwords, financial information, or confidential data.

This procedure generally takes place in four main phases: 

a) Preparation: Preparation involves attackers gaining in-depth information about their targets through various sources such as social media, phone calls, emails, text messages, and the dark web. This phase enables them to develop their strategy, customising it to the victim's hobbies or weaknesses.  

b) Infiltration: Infiltration occurs when attackers pretend to be trusted contacts or authorities to interact with the target. They use the collected information to establish trust in certain situations. In some cases, they reach big targets such as system administrators, IT staff, or executives, whose access can result in obtaining more valuable data.  

c) Exploitation: After establishing trust, attackers exploit the victim by tricking them into disclosing sensitive information like login details, bank details, or access codes. It often includes using subtle methods like sending malicious links, spammy attachments, or creating fake websites that appear harmless.  

d) Disengagement: Disengagement occurs when the attacker stops communicating after getting the information needed, then carries out the Cyberattack or sells the data, leaving the victim unaware until it's too late.  

Being cautious when dealing with unexpected messages and raising awareness of Social Engineering tactics are key components in defending against such attacks.
 

14 Common Social Engineering Attacks  

Attackers use various Social Engineering techniques to deceive individuals into gaining accessing to their sensitive data or systems. Let’s explore 14 common attacks in brief.  

1) Baiting   

Baiting is a method that involves luring victims into disclosing sensitive information by promising something appealing in exchange.   

For example, fraudsters might employ pop-up advertisements offering free games, music, or film downloads. When you click these links, the device usually gets infected with malware.  

Baiting can also happen in the real world. A popular strategy involves dropping a USB drive with a tempting label, such as "Quarter 3 Payroll" or "Top Client Records." A curious worker unknowingly infects their network with malware by plugging it into their computer.  

2) Phishing Attacks  

Phishing attacks derive their name from the concept of 'fishing' for sensitive information. Scammers or attackers use communication methods, often emails, to lure or 'fish' for your personal and sensitive information. These messages are designed to mimic legitimate organisations or contacts, making them appear trustworthy at first glance.     

Phishing attacks typically aim to achieve one of three goals:   

a) Clicking a Link: Phishing emails may contain links that install malware on your device.   

b) Downloading an Attachment: Hackers may hide malware as an attachment, like a fake "court notice," which infects your system when downloaded.   

c) Entering Credentials on a Fake Website: Attackers often direct you to a legitimate-looking website, prompting you to enter credentials.   

Stolen credentials and malware from phishing scams can result in identity theft, financial fraud, account takeovers, corporate espionage, and more.   

3) Scareware   

Scareware is a form of malware that tricks individuals into purchasing or downloading harmful software disguised as genuine security updates.  

Scareware deceives users with fake security warnings from trustworthy antivirus companies. These notifications commonly state that the device is infected or vulnerable, prompting users to purchase or download software. Additional scareware methods involve alerts regarding memory limits, the necessity for maintenance services, or enhancing hardware and software.  

When individuals are deceived, they download spammy software or visit harmful websites that can swipe personal data like passwords. Sometimes, the software is harmless yet useless bloatware, while in other cases, it may be detrimental malware. Scareware can penetrate a user's device and result in data theft, which may result in identity theft.  

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4) Pretexting   

During a pretexting attack, hackers create a fake persona to trick their victims into sharing confidential data. For example, they could pretend to be a third-party IT provider, asking for account information and passwords while acting to fix a problem. They could also pose as a bank and request verification of bank account details or online banking login information. 

5) Spear Phishing  

A Spear Phishing attack is a type of phishing that is directed at a particular person or group, with messages customised by the attackers. Unlike typical phishing attempts, these attacks leverage personalised details like the target's name, position, or organisation to seem more authentic. The objective is to deceive the victim into clicking on a harmful link, downloading a file, or sharing confidential data such as login details.   

A Spear Phishing attack frequently results in significant data breaches or unauthorised entry to corporate systems.  

Angler Spear Phishing is a recent form of phishing in which scammers impersonate customer service accounts on social media. They monitor platforms such as Twitter or Facebook for users looking for assistance from businesses. This technique merges social manipulation with platform manipulation, creating a potent and risky combination.  

6) Whaling   

Whaling attack refers to phishing attempts on high-profile individuals, such as executives, government leaders, or celebrities. These targets, known as "big fish," allow hackers to make substantial financial gains or obtain vital data.

In celebrity attacks, scammers may seek compromising material, such as images, to demand large ransoms. In corporate settings, hackers frequently send spoof emails to C-level executives, claiming to be from within the organisation. The email may pretend to have important information about a colleague but avoid reporting it directly.  

The attacker offers to submit evidence by spreadsheet, PDF, or slide deck. However, clicking the link sends the victim to a fraudulent website, and opening the attachment infects their device with malware, which can spread throughout the network.  

7) Watering Hole Attacks   

A watering hole attack occurs when hackers infiltrate a website often used by the specific group they are targeting. The attackers either implant malware onto the website or produce a counterfeit version of it. Visitors who visit the infected site might unintentionally download malware (a drive-by download) or be sent to a fake page made to steal sensitive data like login details. This strategy works well by focusing on reputable websites and surprising users.  

8) Diversion Theft   

Diversion theft involves a thief deceiving a courier into delivering a package to an incorrect recipient or location.  

This strategy has transformed from the physical realm into a digital scam, in which hackers trick individuals into mistakenly sending sensitive data to unauthorised individuals.  

These attacks frequently include spoofing, in which attackers pretend to be a reliable source. Spoofing can manifest in various ways, such as spoofed emails, IP addresses, GPS signals, websites, and even phone calls, all intended to deceive the target.  

9) Honeytrap   

A honeytrap attack occurs when cybercriminals take advantage of people seeking love on dating sites or social networks as part of a social engineering scheme. The attacker creates a fake identity with a believable background to entice the victim into a romantic involvement. As the connection strengthens, the attacker uses the trust built to force the victim into sending money, sharing personal information, or unknowingly downloading harmful software.  

10) Quid Pro Quo   

When an attacker offers a valuable service in exchange for sensitive information from the victim, it is known as a quid pro quo attack.   

For instance, the attacker might pose as an IT support worker and contact a user, stating they can resolve problems such as slow network speeds or updating systems. They ask for the user's login credentials in return for fixing the problem. Once acquired, these credentials are utilised to obtain valuable information or traded on the dark web for financial gain.  

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11) DNS Spoofing / Cache Poisoning   

In DNS spoofing, hackers change the Domain Name System (DNS) to steer users away from trusted websites toward malicious ones.  

The process of DNS Spoofing:  

a) User Request: The device initiated a DNS request made by the user to resolve a domain name.  

b) Manipulation: Attackers redirect users to malicious sites by intercepting or falsifying DNS responses.  

c) Redirection: Once the DNS cache is compromised, subsequent requests will be directed to the harmful website.  

12) Physical Breaches and Tailgating   

Tailgating happens when someone without permission enters a restricted area by following closely behind a person who is authorised, getting around security protocols. This strategy is frequently seen in places such as office buildings, data centres, and manufacturing facilities. The trespasser might camouflage the authorised individual to gain entry.   

Tailgating can have significant outcomes, such as the theft of important data, physical assets, or harm to employees. Such violations have the potential to harm a company's image and lead to substantial financial setbacks due to compromised information or stolen resources. Moreover, the event could lead to feelings of uncertainty for workers, resulting in lower levels of morale and productivity.  

13) Business Email Compromise (BEC)   

BEC is an email scam in which Cybercriminals pretend to be trusted figures from a company, like executives or suppliers, to trick employees into giving away money or confidential data.   

BEC attacks frequently use strategies such as CEO fraud, in which hackers pretend to be high-ranking executives to demand immediate wire transfers, or account compromise, in which a compromised email is utilised to interact with unknowing targets. These cyberattacks can impact companies of any size and result in major financial loss, data breaches, as well as harm to a company's reputation.   

BEC attacks depend on manipulation and social engineering, not technical vulnerabilities. 

14) Smishing (SMS Phishing)   

Smishing, also known as SMS-phishing, is a form of Social Engineering Attack that is conducted through SMS messages. In these schemes, fraudsters send SMSs that lure users to click on a link, redirecting them to a harmful website. Upon arrival, individuals are asked to install malicious software or content.    

As mobile device usage grows, smishing has become more popular. Although many users have improved their ability to recognise email phishing attempts, they frequently underestimate the risks associated with text messages. Attackers use little effort in smishing attacks, usually utilising a fake number and a harmful link to carry out the attack. 

Conclusion  

Social Engineering Attacks exploit human weaknesses instead of technical weaknesses, which makes them extremely dangerous and deceitful. Attackers can easily deceive individuals into sharing sensitive information or giving unauthorised access by exploiting emotions such as trust and urgency. Being aware of Strategies to Prevent Social Engineering and by Remaining alert, confirming suspicious communications, and sticking to security protocols can greatly lessen the chance of being targeted by these Social Engineering strategies!  

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