Protect Your Data From Social Engineering Attempts

Social Engineering is a cybercrime which aims to harvest data from users without their knowledge. The types of information these cyber-criminals hope to access may vary, however, they often target individuals in the hopes of gaining access to their passwords or bank information. Hackers generally use social engineering techniques on individuals as it is often easier to exploit someone’s trust than to use the time to hack into software. Basically, some cyber-criminals find it easier to trick someone into providing confidential data than hacking their passwords. To ensure your team members are secure, they should know who and what to trust. Individuals should know not to trust the person they are communicating with unless known to the individual. It should be viewed the same as any other online interaction or transaction if a website didn’t appear to be legitimate, would you share your information with it? Most security experts agree that the weakest link in the security chain is people. It is essential for businesses to provide appropriate training for their employees to ensure they can not only recognise social engineering attempts and other online security threats but to also avoid becoming a victim to them. There are many ways to recognise these threats and to ensure the person you are communicating with is who they say they are, such as;  

Think Before You Click!

To ensure you share your confidential data, cyber-criminals often convey a sense of urgency to make you act first and think later. When you receive a highly urgent message from a source you are unsure of, take a moment to ensure it is credible.

Research Sources

Always be wary of unsolicited messages. Check the domain links to see if they are real and that the person emailing you is part of the organisation. A typo or spelling error is an indicator that this email is not from a credible source. If you hover your cursor over a link before clicking it will reveal the link in the bottom. This is another way of ensuring that the source is credible and safe.

Be Wary When Opening Files

If you 1. don’t know the sender, 2. didn’t expect an attachment from the sender or 3. are unsure if you should view the file, check with the person who sent you the file to ensure it is safe to open or download.

Delete Requests For Confidential Information Or Passwords

It is rare that someone will contact you via email for your personal information. Remember this when ensuring the credibility of a source. If the source is unverified, do not share your data.

Secure Your Devices

Ensure your devices are secured and that your anti-virus software is up to date. Firewalls should be updated regularly and you should ensure security is a priority within your business. Multi-Factor Authentication is a method in which your data is secured and protected through multiple requests to confirm your identity.

Always Be Aware Of Risks

Always ensure that requests for information are credible. If you are unsure of a data request or email, do not share data, it is better to be safe than sorry!