What is Social Engineering? Uncovering an increasingly pervasive threat.

Redazione RHC : 19 July 2025 09:57

Social engineering is a psychological manipulation technique used to gain unauthorized access or information. Attackers exploit people’s natural tendency to rely on trust and courtesy to convince them to provide confidential information or perform malicious actions.

This technique can occur in various contexts, such as through fraudulent emails, phone calls or text messages and much more.

The practice of social engineering has become increasingly widespread in recent years, thanks to the growing interconnection of people through digital technologies.

In this article we will explore the phenomenon of social engineering in its entirety, analyzing its history, techniques, the psychological factor, up to the problem of privacy and exploring new trends.

History of Social Engineering: Evolution and Development Over Time

Social engineering is a psychological manipulation technique used to obtain unauthorized information or access. It has a long history dating back several centuries. Initially, social engineering was used primarily for military purposes, such as infiltrating an enemy fortress or obtaining confidential information through the interrogation of prisoners.

With the advent of the digital age, social engineering has found a new dimension. Attackers began using psychological manipulation techniques through technology, such as sending fraudulent emails or creating fake websites to gain access to protected systems or networks.

In the 1990s, social engineering also began to be used for financial purposes, with the rise of cybercrimes such as credit card cloning and identity theft. Attackers used social engineering techniques such as phishing or pretexting to obtain personal or financial information from victims.

Over time, attackers have developed increasingly sophisticated social engineering techniques, especially these days using artificial intelligence and automation to increase the effectiveness of their attacks. For example, attackers can use chatbots to interact with victims and convince them to provide personal information or click on malicious links.

Today, social engineering continues to evolve rapidly and adapt to new technologies and new ways of communicating. Attackers can use social media, mobile devices, or apps to contact victims and convince them to provide sensitive information.

Types of social engineering: phishing, pretexting, baiting, and other techniques

There are several techniques attackers use to carry out social engineering attacks, including phishing, pretexting, baiting, and many others.

Phishing is one of the most common social engineering techniques. Attackers send fraudulent emails that appear to come from a legitimate source, such as a bank or company, to trick people into providing personal information or clicking a link to a malicious website. Phishing can also be conducted through social media, where attackers try to convince people to click on a link or download a file to gain unauthorized access to a system or network.

Pretexting, on the other hand, involves using false or manipulated information to convince people to provide personal or sensitive information. Attackers pretend to be someone else, such as a bank or company representative, to obtain information such as credit card numbers or passwords. This technique can also be used to gain access to confidential information, such as the personal data of a company’s employees.

Baiting, on the other hand, involves offering an incentive to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. For example, attackers may leave a USB stick or CD containing malware in a public place or inside a company building. If a person finds the device and inserts it into their computer, the malware is installed, and attackers can gain persistence on the system and thus gain access to the company’s network.

There are also other social engineering techniques, such as the quid pro quo attack, in which attackers offer something in exchange for sensitive information, tailgating, in which attackers infiltrate a building or secure area by pretending to be an authorized employee or visitor, and watering hole, in which attackers create a fake website to lure victims and obtain sensitive information.

Essentially, there is no limit to the creativity and ingenuity of criminals. cybercriminals to exploit human weaknesses and thus allow them to access a system or protected information.

Psychology of social engineering: psychological mechanisms behind traps

Social engineeringexploits some Psychological mechanisms to convince victims to perform unwanted actions. Some of these psychological mechanisms are:

1. Fear: People tend to react strongly to fear. Attackers can exploit this mechanism by creating a sense of fear or threat, for example by claiming that the victim’s account has been compromised or that their personal data has been stolen, to convince victims to perform unwanted actions.
2. Trust: People tend to trust those who are similar to them or with whom they share common interests. Attackers can exploit this mechanism by creating fake profiles or using personal information or common interests to build trust with victims and convince them to provide sensitive information;
3. Scarcity: People tend to place a higher value on things that are rare or difficult to obtain. Attackers can exploit this mechanism by creating a sense of urgency or scarcity, for example by claiming that the offer is limited in time or that only a few places remain, or a few minutes to win something, and then convince victims to perform unwanted actions;
4. Authority: People tend to follow the instructions of a person or brand that has social authority. Attackers can exploit this mechanism by creating false authorities, such as fake company representatives or government officials, to convince victims to provide information or click on malicious links.
5. Reciprocity: People tend to respond positively to those who offer something in return. Attackers can exploit this mechanism by offering something in return, such as promising prizes or rewards, to convince victims to provide information or perform unwanted actions.

Social engineering uses psychological mechanisms to manipulate victims and convince them to perform unwanted actions. Knowing these mechanisms is essential to prevent social engineering attacks and protect yourself and your company.

Social engineering examples: real cases of social engineering attacks

Social engineering cases Social engineering attacks are becoming increasingly common and widespread, affecting both individual users and large companies. Here are some examples of social engineering attacks that have had a significant impact:

1. Spear phishing: This is one of the most common types of social engineering. In this attack, hackers send fraudulent emails or text messages, that appear to come from trusted sources, to trick victims into clicking on malicious links or providing personal information. A famous case of spear phishing was the attack on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, in which Russian hackers sent phishing emails to campaign staffers.
2. Pretexts: Pretext attacks involve using false information to obtain personal information. For example, an attacker might call a person pretending to be a representative from their bank and ask for credit card or bank account information. A well-known case of a pretext attack was that of the energy company Duke Energy, in which hackers used false information to gain access to customer data.
3. Baiting: This type of attack involves offering a reward or prize to lure victims into clicking on malicious links or providing personal information. For example, an attacker might send a fraudulent email offering a prize for completing a survey or entering a contest. A well-known case of a baiting attack was that of Sony Pictures, in which hackers offered a copy of the movie “The Interview” as bait to gain access to the company’s data;
4. Phishing via social media: This type of attack uses social media, such as Facebook or Twitter, to spread fraudulent messages or to obtain personal information. For example,an attacker could create a fake Facebook profile and send private messages to victims asking for personal information or offering products or services.

These are just a few examples of social engineering attacks, but there are many other techniques that attackers use to manipulate victims.

How to defend yourself from social engineering: prevention and countermeasures

Social engineering is a powerful weapon in the hands of hackers, but there are several countermeasures that people and companies can take to protect themselves from these attacks.

Here are some precautions you can take to protect yourself from social engineering:

1. Staff training: Staff training is a crucial element in preventing social engineering. Employees should be informed about the risks of social engineering and how to identify and prevent attacks. Training should include simulated social engineering attacks so employees can gain practical experience in preventing such attacks.
2. Two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your standard password. In practice, this means that to access an account, the user must enter not only the password, but also a code generated in real time by an application on their phone. This makes it much more difficult for attackers to access accounts even if they know the password.
3. Software Updates: Many security vulnerabilities are fixed through software updates. It is therefore important to keep all programs and operating systems updated with the latest security patches.
4. Data Encryption: Data encryption is an effective way to protect confidential information from social engineering attacks. Encryption makes data unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the key to decrypt it.
5. Constant Monitoring: Constant monitoring of your network and systems is another effective countermeasure against social engineering. This allows you to promptly identify any suspicious activity and take appropriate action to prevent any damage.

These are just some of the countermeasures that can be adopted to defend against social engineering. However, awareness and prudence remain the most effective weapons in the fight against social engineering attacks. You must always be vigilant and never let your guard down.

Social Engineering and Cybersecurity: Implications for Cybersecurity

Social engineering has become an increasingly serious threat to cybersecurity. Attackers use sophisticated psychological manipulation techniques to trick people into acting improperly or revealing confidential information. This means that even if a network or system has been well-protected, hackers can still gain access if they are able to manipulate users.

There are several cybersecurity implications of social engineering. One of these is increased user vulnerability. Attackers can use social engineering to trick users into clicking malicious links, opening infected attachments, or revealing their login credentials. This can allow attackers to access confidential information or compromise entire networks.

Furthermore, social engineering can render even the most advanced cybersecurity technology useless. Companies may have implemented advanced security systems such as firewalls, antivirus software, and data encryption, but if attackers are able to manipulate users, they can circumvent these systems. For example, hackers can use pretexting to gain access to a secure building, or use phishing to obtain a system administrator’s login credentials.

Another cybersecurity implication is the need for a holistic approach to security. Companies must adopt a range of security measures, primarily, as we’ve mentioned, staff training, but also software updates and constant network monitoring. They must also pay attention to physical security, such as controlling access to premises and securely destroying sensitive documents.

Finally, the cybersecurity implications of social engineering underscore the importance of staff awareness and training. Users need to be informed about the risks of social engineering and how to identify and prevent attacks. Furthermore, companies must implement a security culture where cybersecurity is a priority for everyone, not just cybersecurity managers.

Social engineering and privacy: risks to people’s privacy

Social engineering poses not only a threat to cybersecurity, but also to people’s privacy. In fact, many of the techniques used by attackers aim to collect personal and confidential information for malicious purposes.

For example, a common technique used in social engineering is deception. Attackers can use various deception techniques to convince people to share personal information, such as their first name, last name, date of birth, email address, and password. This information can then be used to log into online accounts, steal identities, or carry out scams.

Furthermore, attackers can use information gathered through social engineering to directly attack people’s privacy. For example, they may use the collected information to blackmail or intimidate people, disseminate confidential or compromising information, or steal sensitive information.

To protect your privacy from social engineering, it’s important to be aware of the techniques used by attackers and take appropriate security measures. For example, you should avoid providing personal information to unknown websites or people, use strong and unique passwords for each online account, and regularly monitor your accounts for suspicious activity. Additionally, it is important to educate yourself and others about cybersecurity and preventing social engineering.

Social Engineering and Social Media: Using Social Media to Conduct Attacks

Social media has become An important source of information for attackers using social engineering. In fact, the information people share on social media can be used by attackers to create a complete profile of their lives and habits, thus facilitating their task of conducting social engineering attacks.

Attackers can use social media to monitor people’s activities, identifying their relationships, interests, hobbies, and more. This information can be used to create personalized messages, convincing people to click on malicious links, or sharing personal information.

Furthermore, attackers can create fake social media accounts, impersonate friends or acquaintances, and try to convince people to share personal information or click on malicious links. This technique is known as “spear phishing,” and it’s particularly dangerous because attackers craft personalized messages that appear to come from trusted sources.

To protect yourself from social engineering on social media, it’s important to be aware of the information you share and with whom. It’s important to properly set the privacy settings on your social media accounts, avoid sharing personal information like your location or address, and not accept friend or follower requests from unknown or suspicious people. Additionally, it is important to educate yourself and others about cybersecurity on social media and the importance of keeping personal information private.

The Future of Social Engineering: Future Trends and Expected Developments

Social Social engineering has become an increasingly significant threat in the cybersecurity world, and its evolution is expected to continue in the future. There are several trends and developments expected to influence the future of social engineering.

First, the automation of social engineering processes could become more widespread. Attackers could use machine learning algorithms to create highly personalized and convincing phishing or pretexting messages that would be difficult to distinguish from legitimate messages.

Second, the use of emerging technologies such as virtual reality could offer new opportunities for social engineering. Attackers could use immersive virtual reality to create highly realistic deception scenarios, which could trick victims into sharing personal information or performing malicious actions.

Third, the growing availability of personal data and the increased collection of it could provide attackers with even more detailed information about victims, which could be used to deceive them even more easily.

Finally, social engineering techniques are expected to become increasingly sophisticated and targeted, capable of convincing victims to perform even more dangerous actions, such as transferring large sums of money or accessing sensitive data.

To prevent such future threats, it is important for organizations and individuals to adopt more advanced security measures, such as two-factor authentication. factors, training in social engineering techniques, and the use of advanced defense tools such as firewalls, anti-malware, and intrusion detection systems. Furthermore, it is important to continue monitoring and adapting to new trends and developments in the world of social engineering to adequately protect personal and business information.

Conclusions

Social engineering is an increasingly relevant threat to the Cybersecurity and the privacy of individuals and organizations. Social engineering techniques have become increasingly sophisticated and targeted, capable of tricking victims into revealing sensitive information or performing malicious actions. It is essential that organizations and individuals adopt advanced prevention and countermeasures to adequately protect their information.

Furthermore, individuals represent the weak link in the chain and are often the ones who provide criminals with sensitive information or perform malicious actions in order to carry out their crimes. Therefore, security awareness activities are essential to increase people’s risk awareness and create a widespread risk-conscious mindset.

Prevention is therefore the key to countering social engineering. Organizations must train their employees to identify social engineering techniques and how to avoid them, adopting security measures such as two-factor authentication, constant network monitoring, and the use of advanced defense tools.

Individuals should also adopt security measures such as using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, using security software, and verifying the authenticity of received emails and messages.

Social engineering represents an increasingly greater threat to the cybersecurity and privacy of individuals and organizations. However, with the right training, prevention, and the adoption of advanced countermeasures, the risk of falling victim to such attacks can be significantly reduced.