What’s the weakest link in your cybersecurity strategy?
It’s not your firewall or antivirus software but your people.

Social engineering targets human behavior and tricks you and your employees into giving away valuable information. Learn more about it here.

What Is Social Engineering?
Brute force isn’t the only way to gain private information, system access, or valuables. Some criminals take a subtler path through deception. They rely on trust, curiosity, and fear to get what they want.

One of the greatest dangers of psychological manipulation is that it doesn’t have to work against everyone. One successfully fooled victim within your workforce is enough to compromise your whole establishment.

Watch Out for These Social Engineering Attacks
Many people fall victim simply because they don’t recognize the signs. Familiarize your team with these common tactics:

Phishing
Attackers pose as trustworthy sources and send messages that usually create urgency and push victims to act quickly.

They come in various forms, including:

  • Fake social media accounts
  • Emails
  • Phone calls
  • Text messages

Baiting
As the name suggests, many criminals tempt victims with an enticing offer. You’re probably familiar with the most well-known example — the Nigerian Prince scam. Here, scammers promise vast wealth in exchange for upfront fees.

More current examples involve giving away free but malware-infected software or even USB drives. Some pretend to conduct giveaways or promotions that require personal information.

Tailgating
Tailgating, or “piggybacking,” is a social engineering scam where threat actors follow authorized staff into an area containing valuable assets or data. They could come in the form of insider threats or impersonation attacks.

Criminals can pose as employees, colleagues, or even delivery personnel.

Pretexting
Pretexting techniques are another form of trust exploitation where attackers create a fake problem and pose as the authority to resolve it. They might pretend to be IT support or management.

Scareware
Scareware is malicious software used to trick users into thinking their devices are infected or at risk. It can also take the form of a fake law enforcement warning. It uses fear to pressure the victim into acting quickly without thinking.

Build Your Business’s Defense Against Deceptive Tactics
A prepared company is a stronger company. Incorporate these steps into your security strategy:

Conduct Security Awareness Training
Knowledge is your best defense against social engineering. Employees who recognize deceptive tactics are less likely to fall for them. Teach your team to pause, verify, and think critically before acting.

Create Access Control Policies
Take a zero-trust cybersecurity approach where you verify every user and device.

Invest in Cybersecurity Technologies
Spam filters and secure email gateways are essential for blocking phishing emails before they reach inboxes. Firewalls and antivirus software act like virtual barriers that stop unauthorized access and malicious threats.

Stay Ahead of Threats and Protect Your Success
Social engineering tactics are only becoming more sophisticated and frequent. Regularly update your systems and educate your team. Protecting your data is key to your business’s long-term success and resilience.

Questions? Reach out to the BMT Team for a complimentary consult.