Social Engineering: 9 Attack Techniques and 6 Defensive Measures

What Is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is a method used to manipulate people into divulging confidential information, enabling unauthorized access, or deploying malware. Unlike technical hacking, which relies on breaking into systems, social engineering schemes exploit human psychology to achieve their objectives. Attackers craft deceitful strategies to gain the trust of victims, persuading them to share sensitive information like passwords, social security numbers, and financial details.

The effectiveness of social engineering lies in its ability to exploit the human tendency to trust. People are conditioned to be helpful and respond quickly to authoritative or urgent requests, making them susceptible to these kinds of attacks. Misleading emails, phone calls, or even face-to-face interactions can create a narrative that prompts actions without proper validation, leading to significant security breaches.

Common Types of Social Engineering Attacks

Here are some of the most common social engineering attack vectors:

1. Phishing

Phishing is a widespread social engineering attack that uses email or other communication channels to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Phishing emails are crafted to appear legitimate, often mimicking trusted brands or contacts. The attacker typically includes links or attachments that, once clicked, compromise security, leading to data theft or malware installation.

The simplicity and low cost of phishing make it attractive to cybercriminals. Attackers continuously refine their tactics, personalizing messages and using techniques to bypass email filters and security measures. In recent years, attackers are leveraging generative AI technology to create more realistic and personalized phishing messages at scale.

2. Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a targeted version of phishing where attackers personalize their communications to a specific individual or organization. By researching their targets, attackers craft messages that appear as legitimate as possible. This level of customization increases the likelihood of the victim falling for the scam. Typically, these messages might appear to come from colleagues or trusted partners, increasing their credibility and potential impact.

Unlike traditional phishing, spear phishing requires more effort and sophistication, often involving detailed background research on the target. The personalized approach makes it harder for automated systems to detect the attack due to its seemingly authentic appearance. This specificity also means the potential damage is higher, as attackers often aim for high-value targets, such as accessing sensitive corporate data or impersonating key personnel to execute financial transactions.

3. Vishing

Vishing, or "voice phishing," involves attackers using phone calls or voice messages to deceive victims into revealing sensitive information. These scams often involve the impersonation of legitimate entities, such as banks, government agencies, or tech support, to create a sense of urgency or trust. Attackers may claim that the victim's account has been compromised or that they owe money, prompting them to disclose personal information, such as account numbers or passwords.

The personal nature of voice interactions makes vishing highly effective, as people are more likely to comply with requests when speaking directly to someone. Unlike email phishing, vishing bypasses many digital security controls, relying instead on social manipulation and fear tactics to coerce the victim into immediate action. Educating users on recognizing suspicious phone calls and verifying the identity of callers is essential in combating this form of attack.

3. Smishing

Smishing, or "SMS phishing," is a variation of phishing that uses text messages to trick individuals into divulging confidential information or clicking malicious links. Attackers send seemingly legitimate messages, often appearing to come from banks, delivery services, or other trusted entities. The message typically contains a link to a fraudulent website or a request for personal information under the guise of resolving an urgent issue.

Smishing exploits the immediacy and personal nature of text messaging, where users are often less cautious compared to email. Since mobile devices are not as strictly regulated by spam filters or security software as other platforms, smishing attacks can be harder to detect. Raising awareness about the risks of interacting with unexpected or suspicious SMS messages is key to reducing the success of these attacks.

4. Pretexting

Pretexting relies on creating a fabricated scenario or pretext to gain sensitive information or elicit cooperation from the victim. Unlike other social engineering techniques grounded in urgency or fear, pretexting often involves establishing a believable story that convinces the target to provide the needed information willingly. This may be in the form of calls, messages, or face-to-face interactions where attackers pretend to be trusted entities like bank representatives or IT support.

Success in pretexting hinges on preparation and securing the trust of the victim. Attackers gather pieces of information to build a narrative that sounds plausible and authentic, enough to overcome the target’s suspicion and defenses. The ability to operate patiently and strategically makes pretexting a particularly deceptive and effective means of social engineering, often employed in larger schemes to extract valuable data without raising alarms.

5. Baiting

Baiting involves luring victims with the promise of an item or service, hoping they will take a particular action that grants the attacker access to a system or pertinent information. This method takes both physical and digital forms; for instance, bait could be a flash drive labeled with enticing content, left conspicuously, or an online offer promising free downloads or deals. By inducing curiosity or greed, attackers gain entry into systems with minimal effort.

The effectiveness of baiting capitalizes on the human desire for free or exclusive access, making it an attractive lure. Despite its straightforward nature, this manipulation technique can infiltrate systems efficiently if preventive security measures and user awareness are lacking.

6. Quid Pro Quo

Quid pro quo attacks involve offering a service or benefit in exchange for information or access. Commonly, attackers pose as technical support representatives offering to fix a problem in return for login credentials. By assuming a helpful guise, the attacker gains the victim's trust, encouraging them to reciprocate with the desired information.

While quid pro quo may appear benevolent, its deceptive nature makes it a potent tactic for attackers. Victims, focusing on the immediate benefit or resolved issue, might overlook verifying the legitimacy of the offer or the party making it. This strategy turns the basic human principle of cooperation into a vulnerability.

7. Tailgating and Piggybacking

Tailgating and piggybacking refer to unauthorized individuals following authorized personnel into restricted areas. In tailgating, the attacker simply follows without consent, often by slipping through doors before they close. Piggybacking, on the other hand, involves the intruder gaining the consent of the person being followed, sometimes by exploiting courtesy or adopting the guise of innocence.

The vulnerability these tactics exploit is often a lack of stringent access control combined with a reliance on human trust or politeness. Organizations frequently implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access, yet the human element can undermine even the most robust systems if protocols are bypassed due to social interaction or neglect.

8. Scareware

Scareware involves manipulating victims through alarming notifications about supposed security threats, such as virus infections on their devices. These urgent warnings press users to take immediate action, commonly leading them to download malicious software disguised as a fix, thereby compromising their security further. The strategy preys on fear and ignorance of the IT layperson, urging them to resolve the fabricated problem swiftly.

The effectiveness of scareware relies on the realistic portrayal of threats and the urgent nature of prompts, encouraging victims to act impulsively without questioning legitimacy. This deception often convinces users to install programs that exacerbate the problem rather than solve it, potentially leading to data breaches or further malware infections.

9. Watering Hole Attacks

Watering hole attacks target a specific group by infecting a website or resource that group frequently accesses. Attackers identify websites visited by the target group and poison these sites with malware to infect users accessing them. This indirect method ensures a higher likelihood of victim engagement as it exploits trusted websites and bypasses conventional defenses that focus on unfamiliar sources.

The strategic nature of watering hole attacks lies in their focus on compromising well-visited, trusted sites, transforming them into platforms for distributing malware. By attacking familiar environments rather than employing direct assaults on individuals, hackers exploit collective complacency towards trusted domains.

Related content: Read our guide to social engineering testing

Tips From Our Experts

Mike Belton - Head of Service Delivery

With 25+ years in infosec, Michael excels in security, teaching, and leadership, with roles at Optiv, Rapid7, Pentera, and Madison College.

Conduct adversary-in-the-middle (AITM) simulation exercises

Phishing and social engineering simulations often focus on user behavior alone. However, adversaries sometimes intercept MFA tokens using AiTM techniques. Run simulations that test the effectiveness of your MFA against interception and replay attacks to identify weaknesses in real-world MFA reliance.

Develop "Trust but Verify" protocols

Teach employees to adopt a "trust but verify" approach, where they can use secure, alternative channels to verify requests. For example, if a colleague sends an email asking for sensitive information, employees should verify by calling them on a known phone number rather than replying directly.

Implement and enforce access delay policies

Social engineering attacks are often successful because they create urgency. By enforcing access delay policies (e.g., a delay in processing critical actions like large financial transfers), you create a buffer that allows for additional verification, minimizing the effectiveness of urgent, high-stakes social engineering attempts.

Leverage behavior analytics tools

Deploy user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) tools to monitor and flag unusual behavior, such as logging in from new locations, accessing unusual files, or unusual transaction amounts. Even if social engineering leads to credential compromise, analytics can detect anomalies in behavior and trigger alerts.

Perform periodic "live" security drills

In addition to scheduled social engineering tests, consider unannounced, real-world exercises where internal or third-party security teams attempt to socially engineer employees. Use these exercises to identify blind spots in current training and awareness levels.

Real-Life Examples of Social Engineering Attacks

Google Drive Scam

In 2020, a phishing attack exploited a vulnerability in Google Drive's notification system to deceive victims into granting access to their email accounts. Scammers sent authentic-looking push notifications and emails from Google, prompting recipients to click an "Open in Docs" button. This link directed users to a legitimate Google-hosted page, where they were asked to give permissions to a seemingly genuine service, "Google Docs."

By approving these permissions, victims unknowingly granted attackers access to their Gmail accounts, contacts, and documents. The malware then spread further by sending similar phishing emails to the victim’s contacts. Because the emails originated from Google, many victims were caught off-guard.

After receiving reports of the scam, Google promptly took action by removing the malicious documents and patching the security flaw that allowed the exploit.

The Lapsus$ Hacking Group

In 2022, the Lapsus$ hacking group, led by two teenagers, made headlines for breaching major companies, including Nvidia, Rockstar Games, and Uber. The hackers used social engineering techniques, such as impersonating employees, to infiltrate internal networks and steal sensitive data. Their attacks included leaking unreleased footage from Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto game and demanding ransoms to avoid further data exposure.

Despite their technical sophistication, the group was eventually caught due to their public bragging about their exploits online. UK authorities arrested the teenagers, who are still awaiting sentencing for their involvement in the extensive cyberattacks.

Twitter Bitcoin Scam

In July 2020, a major Twitter hack targeted high-profile accounts such as Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and Bill Gates. The attackers first identified Twitter employees with administrative privileges by scraping LinkedIn and used social engineering to gain access to their private contact details. Impersonating internal staff, the hackers tricked employees into granting access to Twitter's internal systems, exploiting the company's shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once inside, they used compromised accounts to post fraudulent messages, promising to double any Bitcoin sent to a specific wallet address. Followers of these accounts, misled by the authority and trust of the individuals being impersonated, sent Bitcoin in the hopes of receiving more in return. This social engineering scam led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses before Twitter intervened and secured the compromised accounts.

Barbara Corcoran Phishing Incident

In 2020, Barbara Corcoran, a host on Shark Tank, nearly lost $400,000 in a phishing scam. The attacker sent an email to Corcoran’s bookkeeper, posing as her assistant and requesting a wire transfer to pay a contractor working on a European real estate project. Since Corcoran frequently invests in real estate, the story seemed plausible, leading the bookkeeper to proceed with the transaction.

Fortunately, the scam was intercepted before the money could reach the scammer's account in China. Corcoran’s bank in New York flagged the transaction, and with the assistance of a German-based bank, the transfer was frozen before the funds could be stolen.

Emerging Trends in Social Engineering

Social engineering is rapidly evolving. Here are some of the latest technological trends leveraged by attackers.

Deepfake Attacks

Deepfake attacks involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create realistic fake videos, audio, or images that impersonate individuals, typically public figures or trusted associates. These forgeries can be used to manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information or taking harmful actions based on false instructions. For example, attackers can create videos that appear to show a company executive instructing employees to transfer funds or disclose critical data.

The sophistication of deepfakes makes them particularly dangerous, as they often bypass traditional security measures that rely on visual or audio authentication. As the technology becomes more advanced, distinguishing between real and fake content becomes increasingly difficult. Organizations must implement robust verification procedures, such as multi-factor authentication and enhanced scrutiny of unusual requests, to mitigate the threat posed by deepfakes in social engineering attacks.

AI-Assisted Phishing

AI-assisted phishing uses machine learning algorithms to automate and enhance phishing campaigns, making them more convincing and personalized. Attackers can deploy generative AI systems, which are now readily available, to craft highly tailored messages that mimic legitimate communications. These messages can be adapted in real-time, adjusting tone, language, and content to increase their likelihood of success.

AI-driven phishing can also scale attacks more effectively, enabling attackers to target thousands of individuals with personalized schemes. By automating processes such as email generation, link embedding, and response handling, AI-assisted phishing increases the efficiency and reach of traditional phishing techniques. To combat this, organizations need to deploy AI-driven detection tools that can identify and block these sophisticated attacks before they reach their targets.

Exploiting Zero-Trust Models

As more organizations adopt zero-trust security models, attackers are developing methods to exploit gaps in these systems. Zero-trust architectures operate on the principle that no user or device, internal or external, is inherently trustworthy, requiring continuous authentication and verification. However, attackers are finding ways to manipulate these models through techniques like social engineering, using compromised credentials or tricking employees into granting unauthorized access.

By leveraging insider threats, phishing, or fake identity proofs, attackers can exploit the human element, which remains a critical vulnerability even within zero-trust frameworks. Organizations need to complement their zero-trust implementations with rigorous user training and continuous monitoring for abnormal behavior, ensuring that both technological and human factors are addressed to maintain security integrity.

6 Ways to Prevent Social Engineering in Your Organization

1. Employee Training and Awareness

Employee training and awareness are the first line of defense in preventing social engineering attacks. Regular training sessions help employees recognize and resist manipulation tactics, reducing human vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. By fostering a security-conscious culture, organizations can empower their workforce to identify suspicious activities and questionable requests proactively.

Maintaining awareness involves continually updating staff on emerging threats and best practices. Interactive training, such as simulations and workshops, can provide practical experience in detecting and responding to social engineering attempts. Awareness programs must emphasize the importance of skepticism, verification, and the proper channels for reporting suspicious incidents.

2. Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication

Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) significantly strengthens security measures against social engineering attacks. By requiring multiple forms of verification, MFA makes it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access, even if one authentication factor is compromised. Typically combining something the user knows (password) with something they have (a smartphone) or are (biometrics), MFA adds an essential layer of protection against identity and information theft.

Adopting MFA across systems and applications ensures that even if attackers successfully deceive individuals into parting with login credentials, they cannot easily proceed without the additional factors. It presents a formidable barrier, compelling attackers to reconsider their approach.

3. Regular Security Assessments and Penetration Testing

Regular security assessments and penetration testing are essential practices to ensure organizational defenses against social engineering are effective. By simulating attack scenarios, organizations can identify vulnerabilities in their systems and remedy them before they're exploited. These evaluations not only strengthen technical defenses but can also highlight deficiencies in employee awareness and response protocols.

Security assessments reveal potential weaknesses, while penetration testing offers a controlled environment to understand an attack's potential impact and improve resilience. Conducting these evaluations periodically ensures that the security posture adapts to emerging threats and evolving attack strategies.

4. Phishing Simulation Exercises

Phishing simulation exercises provide practical experience for employees, helping them recognize and respond to phishing attempts. By mimicking real-world phishing scenarios, these simulations test employees' awareness and decision-making without risking actual breaches. The exercises highlight vulnerabilities and provide opportunities for targeted training, reinforcing best practices and promoting a proactive approach to email security.

Conducting simulations emphasizes learning and adaptation, catering to specific organizational needs and threats. Feedback from these exercises is valuable for refining training programs and enhancing resilience against phishing attacks. Simulated experiences bridge theoretical knowledge with real-time decision-making, encouraging employees to remain vigilant and prudent when confronted with suspicious communication, ultimately fortifying organizational defenses against phishing threats.

5. Developing Clear Security Policies

Clear security policies are pivotal in protecting against social engineering attacks. These guidelines define acceptable behaviors, procedures for handling information, and response strategies for suspected attacks. Clearly documented policies ensure that all members of an organization understand the processes necessary for maintaining security, reducing the likelihood of successful manipulations by ensuring consistency in responses and practices.

Establishing and communicating these policies effectively creates a security foundation that is accessible to all employees. The clarity in policies aids decision-making, especially in high-pressure situations instigated by social engineering attempts.

6. Incident Response Planning

Incident response planning is vital in mitigating the impact of social engineering attacks. A well-devised plan ensures that organizations can quickly identify and manage security incidents, minimizing damage and facilitating recovery. Key elements include clear communication channels, designated response teams, and predefined action steps that streamline responses to breaches, unauthorized access, or data leaks instigated by manipulation tactics.

An effective incident response plan incorporates continuous evaluation and improvement, adapting to lessons learned from previous incidents and emerging threats. Regular drills and simulations can instill confidence and competence within the response team, ensuring readiness for real-world scenarios.

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