Common Social Engineering Tactics Used by Cybercriminals and How Organizations Can Protect Against Them

When it comes to cybersecurity, organizations need to be vigilant against common social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals. These tactics include phishing emails, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating.

Phishing Emails: Cybercriminals often send legitimate-looking emails in an attempt to trick individuals into providing sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords. To protect against phishing emails, organizations should educate employees on how to identify and report suspicious emails.

Pretexting: This tactic involves creating a fake scenario to manipulate individuals into providing confidential information. Organizations can combat pretexting by implementing strict verification procedures and training employees to verify the identities of individuals requesting sensitive information.

Baiting: Cybercriminals may offer something enticing, such as a free software download, to lure individuals into clicking on malicious links. To prevent baiting attacks, organizations should educate employees on the dangers of clicking on unfamiliar links and encourage them to verify the legitimacy of sources before downloading anything.

Tailgating: Also known as piggybacking, this tactic involves an unauthorized person following an employee into a restricted area. To mitigate the risk of tailgating, organizations should implement stringent access control measures, such as requiring keycards or biometric authentication for entry into secure areas.

By staying informed about these common social engineering tactics and implementing proactive security measures, organizations can effectively protect themselves against cybercriminals and safeguard their sensitive information.