Understanding Social Engineering Tactics: 8 Attacks to Watch Out For

Social engineering is a dangerous weapon many cybercriminals use to achieve their nefarious goals. It leverages psychological manipulation to deceive individuals into divulging confidential or personal information. Unlike traditional hacking, which relies on exploiting software vulnerabilities, social engineering targets human vulnerabilities.

Here are the most common types of social engineering attacks in 2024 and real-world examples to highlight their impact.

Phishing: Hook, Line, and Sinker

Phishing is one of the most common social engineering attacks. It involves sending fraudulent communications, usually emails, that appear to come from a legitimate source. The goal is to trick recipients into providing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details.

Example: In 2022, a sophisticated phishing attack aimed at stealing Office 365 credentials, where attackers impersonated the US Department of Labor (DoL). This scam exemplifies the increasing sophistication and convincing nature of modern phishing attempts...