Cybercrime is different than other forms of crime. While other criminals use force and intimidation as their primary tools, cybercriminals rely on their intelligence and ability to manipulate others.

Social engineering schemes are the perfect example of this behavior. Cybercriminals often leverage human psychology to achieve their goals of compromising user credentials and infiltrating protected systems and networks.

However, by understanding how these tactics work and what you can do to defend against them, you’ll minimize the likelihood of exposing yourself and the organization you work with.

Understanding the psychology behind cyber manipulation

Believe it or not, many cybercriminals have a deep understanding of human psychology. They commonly use this to help them to exploit human imperfections and our simple curiosity. Some of the principles of psychology leveraged in cyber manipulation include:

• Authority – Most people are trained to respect their local authorities and follow various laws and standards. Social engineers can use this tendency to pose as certain authority figures to complete actions out of fear of receiving consequences.
  
• Scarcity – FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is another powerful motivator individuals have. Impulse buys and taking advantage of “limited time offers” is a great example of how this works. Cybercriminals can use this sense of urgency to pressure individuals to leap (or click) before looking, making a hasty decision that can cost them or their organization in the long run.
  
• Reciprocity – Reciprocity is another core principle of human psychology that suggests most people feel compelled to return certain favors when receiving them. This triggers a sense of obligation that can be hard to ignore. Social engineers can exploit this by building a certain amount of rapport ahead of time and then providing a small gift to entice others to do the same.

Common social engineering tactics

Below are some of the most commonly used social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals today:

Pretexting

Pretexting is essentially a made-up story used to convince individuals that a caller or email source is someone it isn’t. This is one of the most regularly used forms of social engineering for one reason – it works.

Most people have received fake calls from their “bank” wanting to speak about malicious charges made to their credit cards or discuss an “urgent matter” regarding their accounts. Many times, attackers are simply trying to gather more information about their targets while others may use these false stories to drive unsuspecting victims to make purchases or pass along their financial details.

Baiting

Cybercriminals often try to push individuals to make poor decisions before they have a chance to really consider them. Baiting is a popular way to achieve this goal, luring targets with the promise of getting a great deal or even free gifts.

However, once a victim clicks on a link or downloads a file, these “free” digital items are usually filled with malware and other harmful viruses used to steal information, compromise credentials, or even hijack entire systems.

Quid pro quo

Quid pro quo refers to somebody getting something for giving something. This is also a form of social engineering where attackers try to pose as technical support representatives trying to “help” individuals with apparent problems they may be experiencing with their hardware or software. This form of attack can be highly effective since victims are much more likely to let their guard down when an attacker appears to be doing something helpful.

These types of tactics lean on an individual’s natural inclination to reciprocate kindness by thinking the best in others and being willing to share more information. But this, unfortunately, can lead to severe consequences.

Strategies for recognizing and defending against social engineering attacks

While social engineers are highly skilled at manipulating others to achieve their goals, there are ways to protect yourself. Below are some effective strategies you can follow to better recognize social engineering attacks as they’re happening and defend against them:

Having a healthy level of skepticism: One of the most important things to remember in life is that not everyone has your best interests at heart. This doesn’t mean you need to stay closed off, but it does mean you should have a healthy level of skepticism when dealing with an unknown source.

If you’re receiving unsolicited requests or asked to complete tasks by someone you’ve never heard of before – even if they say they work with an organization you’ve heard of – it’s important to be cautious. If you’re unsure of a source, don’t answer or reply to them directly. Research their company and call them back directly through a verified source.

Developing more awareness: Knowledge is power. This is why staying up to date with the latest trends in cybersecurity is important. Research the latest forms of social engineering and take the time to educate yourself or your staff on the apparent dangers and what to do if and when you come across them. With the rise of AI, it’s also equally important to be aware of AI compliance standards and how they can impact both your security and ethical obligations. It’s better to be overprepared than to be caught off guard.

Establishing strong security practices: Strong security practices should be the foundation of your defense against social engineering attacks. Use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts and enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. Keep your software and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches, and always be careful about the information you share online and the links you click. This is especially critical in maintaining data security and compliance within organizations.

When you notice that you’re becoming a regular target of certain attacks, use reporting tools to notify web administrators of the issue or report the situation to the proper authorities.

Keep yourself protected

With social engineering attacks on the rise, it’s important that you take the proper steps to keep yourself protected. By following the strategies mentioned and understanding how psychology plays into decision-making, you’ll be able to avoid common pitfalls and keep your privacy safe.