Social Engineering

Social engineering is one of the most critical topics in cybersecurity. It primarily revolves around deception and attacks. The attacker deceives the victim by making them believe that they are friends and mean no harm. The attacker slowly builds trust, and when the time and situation are right, the hacker attacks the victim by stealing their data and private information. How does a social engineering attack take place? This chapter delves into the phases of an attack and explores how attackers set themselves up for success by targeting individuals who may be less technologically savvy or mentally vulnerable within society. We discuss the strategies and tricks employed by the attacker in these types of attacks, the tools used during an attack, and the mindset of the attacker. With technology advancing at the current pace, it is imperative to comprehend and study the mechanisms of social engineering attacks. Another advantage of studying these attacks is that we can equip ourselves with prevention against such incidents.