Description: Social engineering refers to a set of manipulative techniques used to deceive individuals into revealing confidential information or performing actions that compromise their security. Often, these techniques are based on human psychology, exploiting trust, curiosity, or fear. In the context of cybersecurity, social engineering becomes a powerful tool for attackers, who can use it to bypass more robust security measures, such as antivirus and antimalware. Unlike technical attacks that focus on software vulnerabilities, social engineering targets the weakest link in the security chain: the human being. This makes it a constant threat and a challenge for organizations seeking to protect their data and systems. Social engineering can manifest in various forms, including phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating, each with its own characteristics and execution methods. Understanding these techniques is essential for developing effective defense and cybersecurity awareness strategies, as preventing these attacks requires not only technology but also ongoing education and training for users.
History: The term ‘social engineering’ began to gain popularity in the 1990s, although manipulation techniques have existed for a long time. One of the earliest documented cases of social engineering dates back to 1996 when hacker Kevin Mitnick was arrested for using these techniques to gain access to computer systems. As technology advanced, so did social engineering tactics, adapting to new platforms and communication methods such as email and social media.
Uses: Social engineering is primarily used in the field of cybersecurity to obtain confidential information such as passwords, banking data, or personal information. It is also applied in fraud, where attackers deceive victims into making money transfers or disclosing sensitive information. Additionally, it is used in information gathering to carry out more sophisticated attacks, such as spear phishing, which targets specific individuals.
Examples: An example of social engineering is phishing, where an attacker sends an email that appears to come from a trusted source, such as a bank, requesting the user to enter their login information on a fake website. Another case is pretexting, where an attacker impersonates a technical support employee to obtain sensitive information from an unsuspecting user. Baiting can also be mentioned, where an infected USB device is left in a public place, hoping someone will connect it to their computer.
