WHAT IS SOCIAL ENGINEERING? TECHNIQUES, CASESTUDY, IMPLICATION AND PREVENTION.

 WHAT IS SOCIAL ENGINEERING?

Social engineering happens with the help of humans, it is a term used to describe the technique used by an attacker (individual or group) to manipulate or trick the target into releasing confidential information, access or perform an action they would not normally do.

It is also described as a non-technical way of accessing information you are not authorized to. They exploit human behavior or emotions such as fear, urgency, deception, persuasion, impersonation, and many more to gain trust or manipulate them into clicking malicious links or performing actions they won't do. 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING

Social engineering targets the weakest link of security which is humans, it is said that humans cause 95% of cybersecurity breaches due to their errors. Its significance lies in its ability to manipulate individuals, here are some of it;

1, The weakest link: A lot of companies invest in a lot of security processes and measures, but these are all useless if the individual behind all these measures can be or is manipulated, social engineering goes for the easiest link in the security chain, which is the human and if the human is manipulated the system is compromised.

2, Phishing: Social engineering uses phishing, spear phishing, tailgating, etc. to deceive the recipient using email, voice calls, or messages pretending to be from a trusted source for them to link a malicious link or send personal information.

3, Insider threat and tailgating: Social engineering can turn an insider into an accomplice, by being manipulated to disclose sensitive information, installing malware, or following them into a restricted area.

4, Psychological manipulation: humans can be triggered to perform actions based on their characters and emotions, social engineering uses fear, authority, curiosity, urgency, excitement, and other emotions to manipulate them into giving them what they need.

5, Cost-effective: the attackers use social engineering not only because it is the weakest link but also a very cheap tactic with minimum technicality needed, it is a low investment with many results.

6, Education and awareness: the threat of social engineering increases every day, the best way to avoid this manipulation is to educate individuals and employees of an organization about their common tactics, warning signs, and best practices.

TECHNIQUES OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING

Techniques are the way the attackers use to turn these individuals into victims of their manipulation by giving them what they want.

1, Phishing: This involves sending deceptive emails, messages, or links that direct them to websites that look or appear to be from a trusted source. The goal is to trick the individual into providing personal or financial details.

2, Spear phishing: This is another form of phishing, more like a targeted phishing that sends deceptive messages to specific individuals or organizations, a targeted phishing makes the message more convincing and increases the likelihood of a successful operation.

3, Pretexting: This is social engineering through text messages, like fabricating a scenario to manipulate an individual into performing actions.

4, Baiting: It exploits human curiosity or greed, the attacker uses this to manipulate the victim into taking actions that compromise their security by clicking on links, installing malicious software by dropping an infected flash drive, or downloading something harmful by offering something desirable.

5, Tailgating: This is a physical technique of following an authorized individual into a secured or restricted area by pretending to be lost exploiting their kindness, or pretending they belong there, by impersonating another person.

6, Quid pro Quo: This is giving out something in exchange for a benefit or service that does not exist, such as the attacker faking to be the tech support and asking for sensitive information to solve a non-existent problem.

7, Impersonation: This can be very simple yet dangerous if caught, it is pretending to be someone who has authorized access like a colleague or authority figure, to gain access to information or resources.

8, Dumpster diving: going through someone else trash to find valuable information like passwords, account numbers, and confidential documents that have been disposed of improperly.

PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND SOCIAL ENGINEERING

Social engineering is a non-technical strategy of hackers to get information or access, they use human psychology to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information, leading them to a restricted area, or performing actions they won't normally do. it exploits psychological vulnerabilities like trust, authority, fear, excitement, urgency, etc. Understanding human behavior, emotions, and triggers is crucial for effective social engineering.

CASE STUDY INVOLVING SOCIAL ENGINEERING.

Case Study: The Equifax Data Breach

In 2017, Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies in the United States, experienced a massive data breach that compromised the personal information of approximately 147 million people. This breach ranks as one of the most significant cybersecurity incidents in history.

Background:

Equifax collects and maintains vast amounts of sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, addresses, birthdates, and credit card details, which are used to generate credit reports and scores for individuals.

Incident:

In March 2017, attackers exploited a vulnerability in the Apache Struts web application framework used by Equifax's online dispute portal. Despite a patch being available for the vulnerability, Equifax failed to apply it promptly. This allowed the attackers to gain unauthorized access to Equifax's systems and remain undetected for months.

Over several months, the attackers exfiltrated sensitive data from Equifax's servers. Equifax discovered the breach in late July 2017 but did not disclose it to the public until September 2017, leading to significant criticism and outrage.

Impact:

The Equifax data breach exposed a vast amount of personally identifiable information, leaving millions of individuals at risk of identity theft, fraud, and financial harm. The stolen data could potentially be used for various malicious purposes, including opening fraudulent accounts, applying for loans, and conducting phishing scams.

The breach had far-reaching consequences for Equifax, including lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and reputational damage. It also underscored the importance of cybersecurity preparedness, vulnerability management, and timely incident response.

Lessons Learned:

Patch Management: Companies must promptly apply security patches and updates to mitigate known vulnerabilities and reduce the risk of exploitation.

Incident Response: Organizations should have robust incident response plans in place to detect, contain, and remediate security breaches promptly.

Transparency and Communication: Prompt and transparent communication with affected individuals, regulators, and the public is crucial to maintaining trust and credibility during a cybersecurity incident.

Data Protection: Safeguarding sensitive data through encryption, access controls, and monitoring mechanisms is essential for preventing unauthorized access and data breaches.

The Equifax data breach serves as a stark reminder of the significant impact that cybersecurity incidents can have on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole. It highlights the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures and continuous vigilance in an increasingly interconnected and digital world.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES FOR SOCIAL ENGINEERING

After knowing the danger, significance, technique, and psychology behind social engineering, you need to understand how to protect and minimize the harm and success rate. I won't say " prevent it" because attacks can only be minimized but not prevented because the more we increase our defense, the more the attackers find a more unique and dangerous way to take out the attack.

1, Be skeptical: You need to learn to ask questions and get enough evidence or clarity before giving out pieces of information. Question unexpected requests for personal or sensitive information, especially if they come through email, phone calls, or social media. This is an important skill one has to have as a human, as it helps you avoid being easily misled.

2, Verify identity: If someone claims to be from a company or organization, verify their identity before sharing any information. You can do this by contacting the company directly through a trusted means, like their official website or phone number.

3, Don't overshare: Be mindful of the information you share online and in person, know who you talk to and what you say to that person. Avoid sharing personal details or financial information with strangers or unverified individuals, it is said that at least two online users leak their data every second.

4, Use strong passwords: Using weak passwords helps attackers a lot, most use brute force, and the less complicated and short your password is, the less the combination pattern and the easier it is for them. Create unique and strong passwords for your online accounts, and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible to add an extra layer of security.

5, Educate yourself: Awareness is the beginning of protection, of course you can't protect yourself from things you have no knowledge of, go online, read a lot, and stay updated about the latest vulnerabilities and threats relating to social engineering such as deep fakes and the rest, Learn about common social engineering tactics, such as phishing emails, pretexting, and baiting, so you can recognize them when they occur.

6, Stay updated: Keep your software and security systems up to date to protect against vulnerabilities that social engineers might exploit. remember that security is not a product or just a step, but a continuous process.

7, Trust your instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it's okay to take a step back and investigate further before taking any action. Do not be in a hurry, don't let your emotions or the impact of their urgency make you take actions that you won't normally do.

8, Report suspicious activity: If you suspect that you've been targeted by a social engineer or if you encounter suspicious behavior, report it to the appropriate authorities or your company's security team.

in conclusion: Social engineering is a deceptive tactic used by individuals to manipulate others into divulging sensitive information, performing certain actions, or providing access to restricted areas or systems. It relies on psychological manipulation rather than technical exploits to exploit human nature and trust. Common techniques include phishing emails, pretexting, baiting, and impersonation. The goal of social engineering is typically to gain unauthorized access to confidential information, financial assets, or physical resources. Awareness, skepticism, and caution are key in preventing falling victim to social engineering attacks, see how important cybersecurity is in other sectors and learn more about cybersecurity.