{"id":21478,"date":"2022-02-28T19:25:15","date_gmt":"2022-02-28T19:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/?p=21478"},"modified":"2026-03-13T14:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T14:02:09","slug":"social-engineering-a-complete-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/social-engineering-a-complete-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Engineering: A Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humans make mistakes. It\u2019s one of the most significant struggles cybersecurity experts face worldwide. Even with sophisticated security tools in place, humans are a weak link. Cyberactors exploit this vulnerability, manipulating people to reveal credential details and other confidential data.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While it\u2019s true that we all make errors, we can put in efforts to stay ahead of these attackers to identify and negate various scams and tricks they might have up their sleeves. The best way to prevent being a target of social engineering is to understand how it works.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we go on to how social engineering works, let\u2019s talk about the <\/span><b>social engineering definition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-definition\">Definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cybersecurity, social engineering is the art of gaining access to sensitive data by manipulating human psychology rather than using sophisticated hacking techniques. Instead of exploiting a system vulnerability, the attacker calls an employee or sends a phishing email, posing as a legitimate source.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term \u201cSocial Engineering\u201d was coined in the 90s with the help of Kelvin Mitnick\u2014<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mitnicksecurity.com\/about-kevin-mitnick\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the world\u2019s most famous hacker<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, as described by CNN and Fox News. Still, the concept has been around for many decades.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-social-engineering-works\">How Social Engineering Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like other cyberthreats, <\/span><b>social engineering attacks<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> come in various forms. Understanding how they work is the best way to mitigate their risks. There are several ways a social engineer can exploit human weakness.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cyberactor can trick you into leaving a door open or downloading malicious content that exposes your network resources. There are four steps to a successful social engineering attack:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Preparation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: At this stage, social engineers gather information about their target. Social media, calls, email, and text messages are all common avenues.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Infiltration:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> During the infiltration stage, cybercriminals approach their targets, posing as legitimate sources using the data gathered about the victims to authenticate themselves.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Exploitation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here,&nbsp; attackers manipulate the users to reveal sensitive information like credential logins, account details, contact information, payment methods, and more that they can use to execute their attacks.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Disengagement: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this final stage, the social engineer or cyberactor ceases communication with the victim, carries out the attack, and disappears.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The time it takes to carry out such a plot depends on the level of the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/social-engineering-trends-in-cybersecurity\/\">social engineering<\/a> attack<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014it could span days or even months. Regardless, knowing what social engineers want and the tactics they use is an excellent <\/span><b>social engineering prevention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> method.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-social-engineers-want\">What Social Engineers Want<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we know <\/span><b>what social engineering attack is<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, let\u2019s dive deeper into the mind of a social engineer. These hackers aim to obtain critical information they can use for identity theft, financial gains, or even in preparation for a more targeted attack. Installing malicious programs to access systems, accounts, or personal data is a common tactic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Information that is valuable to social engineer hackers include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Account numbers<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Login details<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personal Identifiable Informations (PII)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Access cards and identity badges<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Computer system information<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Server and network information<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-social-engineering-affect-an-organization\">How Does Social Engineering Affect an Organization?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/how-does-social-engineering-affect-an-organization\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">impact of <\/span><b>social engineering attacks<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on an organization can be devastating. It can tarnish your reputation, harm professional relationships, and reduce client trust.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides that, social engineering assaults can cause severe financial loss, disruption in operations, and diminished business productivity. Because of these potentially catastrophic effects on business continuity, knowing how to identify, prevent, and counteract social engineering is vital. Implementing good inbound and outbound security can help monitor traffic for suspicious user activity, unusual domains and emails, and massive movement of confidential data.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-social-engineering-tactics-to-look-out-for\">Social Engineering Tactics to Look Out For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several manipulation tactics social engineers use to achieve their devious goals. Identifying these techniques is critical to prevent your sensitive information from getting into the wrong hands. Below are some tactics used by social engineer attackers:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Connecting on the Emotional Level &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Humans are emotional beings and they feel pity when people tell touching stories. Social engineers often create stories or scenarios to convince victims to reveal valuable information.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Using Reasoning that Could Fool You &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cI need to enter the building because I need to meet Jon.\u201d This sounds like a valid reason at first, right? But think about it: It means nothing\u2014if the person isn\u2019t allowed into the building the explanation of them meeting Jon is a fraudulent one. The word \u201cbecause\u201d makes it sound like the reason is valid, though.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Gifting and Favors &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Everyone loves gifts, and it\u2019s human nature to try to reciprocate kindness. Attackers can leverage this to access sensitive information or enter the office building. Remember: free stuff is always part of baiting.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Reciprocity and Liking<\/b> <b>&#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social engineers do all in their power to appear likable. Once they\u2019ve covered this aspect with the victim, it\u2019s a lot easier getting their target to reciprocate their \u201ckindness.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Commitment and Consistency<\/b> <b>&#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> People always want to show commitment to relationships. Social engineers can take advantage of this human nature by creating small commitments (not necessarily romantic). Even giving out your name could be perceived as a trigger to consistency.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Authority and Social Proof<\/b> <b>&#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Everyone has someone that they look up to. If a beauty blogger says an eye cream helps, you\u2019ll buy it, right? On the other hand, many people on the internet seek a sense of belonging. Once cybercriminals recognize these vulnerabilities, they can leverage both to establish themselves in the eyes of the victim.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Scarcity and Urgency &#8211;<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Social engineers create a sense of urgency so that victims won\u2019t have time to think things through. If you receive an email requesting you to perform an urgent action, it\u2019s best to analyze the situation carefully. You can confirm from the proper authority before performing any actions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-social-engineering-attack-types\">Social Engineering Attack Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several social engineering tactics are available depending on the medium of the attack. To avoid a social engineering attack, organizations must understand what it is and how it targets them. Below are some common <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/14-types-of-social-engineering-attacks\/\">social engineering attack types<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-phishing\">Phishing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/phishing-attacks-recognize-and-avoid-email-phishing\/\">Phishing<\/a> is the most famous social engineering tactic used by attackers. The cyberactor designs a fake support portal or website of a reputable company and sends the links to their targets via email to trick them into revealing sensitive information.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-angler-phishing\">Angler Phishing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-angler-phishing-and-how-can-you-avoid-it\/\">Angler Phishing<\/a> is a subset of phishing that targets social media accounts. The attackers spoof customer support accounts of top companies to deceive and convince users to give out credential logins and other critical data.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-spear-phishing\">Spear-Phishing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/seven-examples-of-spear-phishing-attacks\/\">spear-phishing attack<\/a> is a social engineering assault that targets specific companies or individuals. The attacker takes extra time gathering information about their target to make the scam genuine. The end goal is to steal sensitive data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-whaling-ceo-fraud\">Whaling\/CEO Fraud<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/whaling-how-it-works-and-how-to-avoid-it\/\">Whaling<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/6-ways-to-stop-ceo-fraud\/\">CEO fraud<\/a> is a phishing attack that targets top executives or senior-level employees of companies and government agencies. The attacker can spoof the email of a company\u2019s CEO and then send a mail to an employee requesting an urgent transfer or sensitive information.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-419-nigerian-prince-advance-fee-scams\">419\/Nigerian Prince\/Advance Fee Scams<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 419\/Nigerian Prince\/Advance-fee scam is a social engineering tactic used by attackers to trick victims into sending an advance payment. In exchange, the attacker promises the victim a massive payout or percentage of funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-scareware\">Scareware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scareware is malicious deception software that tricks computer users into visiting infected websites. The attack can take the form of ads or pop-ups from legitimate antivirus companies telling you that your computer is infected with a virus. It scares users into paying a fee to solve the security issue.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tabnabbing-reverse-tabnabbing\">Tabnabbing\/Reverse Tabnabbing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-tabnabbing-and-how-it-works\/\">Tabnabbing<\/a> is a social engineering tactic that attackers use to manipulate inactive web pages. It allows a malicious webpage to redirect a legitimate site to the attacker&#8217;s page. Like other social engineering tactics, the aim is to trick users into submitting their credential details.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-spam\">Spam<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-spam-email-and-how-to-prevent-it\/\">Spam<\/a> refers to unwanted messages sent to users in bulk, typically for advertisement purposes. However, cybercriminals leverage this to send messages containing fraudulent links, incentives, or offers. Opening such an email can infect your system or cause the download of ransomware onto your computer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-honey-trap\">Honey Trap<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/how-do-honeypots-protect-against-cyberattacks\/\">honey trap<\/a> is a scam tactic that uses romantic or intimate relationships for personal or monetary gain. In most cases, this attack involves using fraudulent dating sites to find victims, steal their money, and gain or access their sensitive information.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bec-business-email-compromise\">BEC (Business Email Compromise)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-business-email-compromise-bec\/\">Business Email Compromise (BEC)<\/a> is a phishing scheme where cybercriminals use real or spoofed business accounts to defraud a company. The attacker poses as a trusted source\u2014 such as the CEO\u2014to trick employees into making huge transfers or providing critical data they can use for further attacks.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pharming\">Pharming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pharming, a combination of phishing and farming, is a social engineering tactic that redirects users of a particular website to a fake malicious version. The aim is to lure them into submitting login credentials.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-email-hacking\">Email Hacking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Email hacking or email hijacking is a cyberthreat used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to email accounts. The aim is to steal your information to commit fraud. The attackers can then send malicious emails to all your contacts. This is usually the starting point for impersonation and account takeover.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-access-tailgating\">Access Tailgating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online social engineering tactics are pretty diverse, but what about <\/span><b>social engineering in person<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-access-tailgating\/\">Access tailgating<\/a> is a tactic attackers use to access a building or the restricted areas inside a building. Attackers utilize different tactics to execute this attack, such as asking someone to hold the door or using pretexting to gain access.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-baiting\">Baiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-baiting-in-cybersecurity-techniques-examples-protection\/\">Baiting<\/a> is a tactic where scammers trick users into revealing personal and financial information in exchange for something in return. For instance, you can receive an email offering a gift card in exchange for clicking a link to fill out a survey form.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dns-spoofing\">DNS Spoofing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DNS spoofing is an attack that alters a Domain Name record to redirect users to a fraudulent website resembling the intended destination. The attacker then requests the victim to log in, giving them the chance to steal their credential details.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-pretexting\">Pretexting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pretexting is a social engineering attack that tricks victims into divulging confidential data. The attacker creates a fabricated or made-up scenario, pretending to be a legitimate or known source. In this attack, cyberactors can physically access your data by pretending to be a vendor or delivery person.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-physical-breaches\">Physical Breaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical breaches involve the physical theft of sensitive documents and other valuables like storage drives and computers. <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/digital-and-physical-data-security\/\">Physical breaches<\/a> are caused by unauthorized access to a building.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-watering-hole-attacks\">Watering Hole Attacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-a-watering-hole-attack-module-5\/\">A watering hole attack<\/a> is a cyber threat where an attacker targets a particular group of users by infecting the group members\u2019 site. The attacker aims to infect the victims\u2019 computers and access critical network resources.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quid-pro-quo\">Quid Pro Quo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-quid-pro-quo\/\">Quid Pro Quo<\/a> is another social engineering technique where attackers make fake promises to lure victims into divulging sensitive data. For example, you can get a call from someone posing as a trusted service provider representative or IT support.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diversion-theft\">Diversion Theft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-diversion-theft-attack-and-defense-strategies\/\">Diversion theft<\/a> is an offline and online cyberattack where attackers hijack deliveries and divert them to the wrong location. Scammers also use this tactic to lure victims into revealing sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This effect of social engineering on an organization poses a great question: How do you prevent and avoid these kinds of attacks?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-prevent-social-engineering-attacks\">How to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social engineering can happen to anyone, and everybody should learn <\/span><b>how to avoid social engineering scams<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. However, it poses a significant danger to business security as well. It\u2019s vital to prioritize <\/span><b>social engineering prevention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> methods as a core component of your cybersecurity plan.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations should adopt a holistic approach that combines sophisticated security tools, protocols, and regular cyber awareness training for staff and executives. Below are the measures you can implement to counter social engineering risks.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-security-policies-and-protocols\">Security Policies and Protocols<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Security policies and protocols should be an integral part of your cybersecurity plan. These measures tell your employees how to securely access and treat the organization\u2019s resources like email, mobile devices, and passwords. Here are some aspects worth considering:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2fa-and-mfa-enforcement\">2FA and MFA enforcement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organization security policies and protocols should enforce two- and multi-factor authentication. This strengthens your organization\u2019s security by requesting employees to log in with more than just their username and password. With 2FA or MFA, social engineer attackers still can\u2019t access your company\u2019s accounts, even if they have login details.,&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequent-password-changes-and-good-password-hygiene\">Frequent Password Changes and Good Password Hygiene<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practicing good password hygiene should be mandatory. Mandate your employees to change their passwords frequently. They should use a strong password that\u2019s difficult for hackers to guess.. A strong password encompasses both upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols. Also, different passwords across different accounts are essential.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-penetration-attack-testing\">Penetration Attack Testing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular penetration attack testing is key to your overall security defense. It allows you to find gaps in your security procedure. You can even simulate a real-world attack to test your employees and network for any vulnerabilities. With that, you can take a proactive approach to evaluate and constantly improve your IT infrastructure network.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-employee-training\">Employee Training<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social engineering leverages human error to compromise networks. So it\u2019s essential to include your employees in your security plan. They are the first line of defense. <a href=\"https:\/\/easydmarc.com\/blog\/what-is-the-best-defense-against-social-engineering\/\">Social engineering defense<\/a> training should equip your staff with relevant tools to identify cyber threats, protect themselves, and safeguard the organization. You can even schedule monthly social engineering meetings with your employees and invite a security expert.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-device-management\">Device Management<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proper mobile device management is another vital component of effective social engineering preventative measures. Employees using the company\u2019s mobile devices should use strong passwords and install up-to-date anti-virus software.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement strict BYOD (Bring Your Device) policies governing how employees use their devices in the office or when working from home.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-third-party-risk-management-framework\">Third-Party Risk Management Framework<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organizations that rely on third-parties vendors can suffer reputational damage arising from third-party breaches. Even though it\u2019s not a regulatory requirement, organizations should include a third-party management plan in their security plan. It provides valuable control and information on mitigating risks arising from these outside business relationships.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-data-leak-detection\">Data Leak Detection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data breaches expose confidential information like login details, credit card info, and email addresses. Social engineers can purchase this information from the dark web to attempt phishing or other email attacks. For that reason, organizations should implement a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solution to prevent endpoint devices from leaking confidential data.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Social engineering is one of the most prevalent cyberattack types that threaten organization security. Organizations and employees must understand the negative impact of successful cyberattacks. This can go beyond data loss to more aggravating effects like financial loss and even damage to business continuity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understanding how social engineers work and what they want is the first step to <\/span><b>social engineering prevention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Implement strict security policies and educate your staff on identifying social engineering tactics to prevent these attacks. Your cybersecurity plan should include regular penetration testing and third-party risk management, too.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Humans make mistakes. It\u2019s one of the most &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[204,290,199,289],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-cyberattacks-cyberthreats","category-cybersecurity","category-social-engineering"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Social Engineering: A Complete Guide | EasyDMARC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Social engineering is a cyberattack category based on the human factor. 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