Protecting Yourself from Social Engineering Attacks

Regardless of whether it’s your personal device, or a device used at your place of business, it is important to be aware of social engineering attacks. Social engineering attacks are designed to exploit individuals into revealing sensitive information or performing actions that can compromise security. It is critical to be vigilant to protect yourself, your organization, and customers’ information.

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is a general term used to describe tactics used to manipulate people into taking actions that are disadvantageous towards themselves. Social engineering attacks can take many forms, including:

Phishing: Phishing typically consists of deceptive emails, messages, or websites that are designed to trick users into revealing personal information like passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data.

Vishing: Vishing is quite similar to phishing, but instead of words on a screen, these attacks use voice calls in hopes you divulge sensitive information.

Baiting: This form of social engineering is used to entice individuals with attractive offers or opportunities, luring them into revealing information or installing malware.

Pretexting: Pretexting is when cyber criminals create a fabricated scenario to gain trust and manipulate users into providing information.

Signs to Watch Out For

In the event you find yourself suspicious of an email, message, website, phone call, etc., then it is important to pause and look for certain signs of irregularity. The following are some of the signs to watch out for when it comes to social engineering attacks.

• Scammers often create a sense of urgency or fear to pressure you into acting quickly without thinking.
• Be cautious of links or attachments in emails, especially from unknown senders or those that seem out of place.
• Legitimate organizations rarely request personal or sensitive information like passwords or financial details via email.
• Be wary of requests that are out of the ordinary or don’t align with typical business practices.
• Often attacks contain errors, such as spelling, which can be a sign of a scam.

How to Protect Yourself Against Social Engineering Attacks

There are numerous ways to help prevent and protect yourself from falling victim to a social engineering attack. Some of these may include, but are not limited to:

• When receiving a message, verify the sender’s email address and domain name. If in doubt, contact the sender through a known and trusted channel.
• Don’t click on links or open any attachments from unknown or untrusted sources.
• Creating complex passwords and enabling multi-factor authentication for your online accounts is recommended.
• Avoid sending sensitive information like passwords, financial details, or personal data to unverified sources. 
• Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. Verify the legitimacy of the offer through official channels.
• Keeping your device, operating system, antivirus software, and other applications updated will help protect against known vulnerabilities.

Cyber Insurance Quotes for Businesses

At Cross Insurance, we work with many insurance carriers – from local companies to national names. The process of requesting a cyber insurance quote for your business is as simple as filling out our form here, or if you prefer to call one of our experienced agents, you can find a list of our local offices along with their contact information here. 

More Insurance Coverages

With local offices throughout the Northeast, Cross Insurance can help you find coverage options for your business, including coverages such as general liability, professional liability, workers’ comp, and more. Reach out today to start the conversation.

 

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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.