Social engineering: a method of manipulation that can put your SME at risk

What is social engineering and how does it work? 

Social engineering is a manipulative tactic that seeks to exploit people's trust, curiosity or inattention to gain valuable information or access to restricted systems. Rather than relying on technical vulnerabilities, social engineering uses psychological strategies to get users to provide sensitive data or perform actions that compromise the security of the company. 

Attackers study human behaviour and use persuasion tactics to make the victim lower their guard. These attacks are particularly effective because most people are used to trusting others in their work environment and often underestimate the possibility of being manipulated. This makes social engineering one of the most difficult threats to detect and prevent, as the ‘flaw’ is in the user himself and not in the system. 

What types of social engineering attacks are there? 

There are various forms of social engineering attacks, each suited to different contexts and targets. Here are some of the most common methods: 

• Phishing: this is one of the most well-known social engineering techniques. In this attack, the cybercriminal poses as a trusted entity, such as a bank or government institution, to request sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers or personal data. Typically, phishing is done through emails, text messages or even phone calls that attempt to convince the victim to enter their information into a fake link. 

• Spear Phishing: this is a more targeted and personalised form of phishing. Attackers carefully research their victims to target them in a personalised way, using information such as name, job title or company details. By making the message more personal and credible, the likelihood of the victim falling for it increases. 

• Vishing: this is based on the same principle as phishing but is carried out via phone calls. Attackers call the victim posing as a trusted person, such as an IT support technician, to obtain confidential information. It is especially dangerous as the tone of voice can be convincing and pressure the person to act quickly without questioning the request. 

• Pretexting: the attacker invents a scenario or a story (a pretext) to gain the victim's trust and get him to provide valuable information or access to certain resources. For example, an attacker could impersonate a supplier who needs access information to a system or who requests personal details for a supposed identity verification. 

• Tailgating (or Piggybacking): occurs when an attacker gains access to a secure area of the company by following a legitimate employee. In this case, the attacker simply follows someone to a door with restricted access and enters by taking advantage of the employee opening it. This method, although less technological, is highly effective in companies with secure physical access but without sufficient security training. 

• Baiting: the attacker uses the victim's curiosity or interest to lure them into a trap. A typical example is leaving an infected USB stick in a visible place. When someone finds it and tries to open it, malware is automatically downloaded onto the company's system. 

What to do about these attacks? 

The best defence against social engineering attacks is a combination of education, security policies and preventative measures. Here are some essential steps to protect your SME: 

1. Train your team 

Awareness is the first line of defence. Train your employees to recognise social engineering attempts and know how to respond to them. Conducting cybersecurity workshops, phishing simulations and providing training materials can make a difference and create a safer working environment. 

2. Establish security policies 

Implement clear security policies to protect confidential information and company resources. Establish, for example, specific procedures to verify the identity of anyone requesting access to internal data or systems. In addition, limit access to sensitive information to only those employees who really need it. 

3. Use security tools 

Take advantage of security tools to prevent social engineering attacks. Implementing email filters, multi-factor authentication systems and activity monitoring tools can help identify and block phishing attempts or suspicious logins before they become a problem. 

4. Promotes a culture of security 

Creating a culture of security in the company is essential to make employees aware of the importance of protecting information. This means encouraging communication about potential threats, reporting suspicious incidents and continually reminding employees of the importance of not sharing sensitive information recklessly. 

5. Perform tests and simulations 

Conducting simulations of phishing or other social engineering attacks can help your employees be better prepared. These tests allow workers to recognise tampering attempts in a secure environment and learn how to respond appropriately. 

Social engineering is a real and growing threat to SMEs, as it exploits the trust and good faith of employees to gain access to critical information. Protecting against these attacks is possible through training, clear policies and the use of security tools that reinforce a company's security culture. 

To learn more about how to protect your SME from these and other types of attacks, visit our cybersecurity content and keep your business safe.