Social Engineering Attacks and Countermeasures

Abstract

This book chapter examines the increasing danger of social engineering attacks in cybersecurity. These attacks focus on exploiting human vulnerabilities instead of technical weaknesses and target the human element of organizations. The chapter outlines the various types of social engineering attacks such as phishing, pretexting, baiting, and quid pro quo, and explores the strategies employed by social engineers including the creation of urgency, trust, and fear. It also covers countermeasures that can be employed to guard against social engineering attacks, such as education and awareness programs for employees and technical solutions like spam filters and multi-factor authentication. By understanding the threat of social engineering attacks and taking proactive steps to mitigate this risk, individuals and organizations can protect themselves against this growing cybersecurity menace.