{"id":575843,"date":"2023-05-24T14:19:57","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T11:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/?p=575843"},"modified":"2023-05-24T14:20:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T11:20:55","slug":"social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/","title":{"rendered":"#Social Engineering Awareness: Protecting Yourself from Psychological Cyber Attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a27a076b045a\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a27a076b045a\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#What_is_Social_Engineering\" >What is Social Engineering?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#How_to_Protect_Yourself_from_Social_Engineering_Attacks\" >How to Protect Yourself from Social Engineering Attacks<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#1_Stay_Informed_and_Educate_Yourself\" >1. Stay Informed and Educate Yourself<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#2_Confirm_the_Senders_Identity\" >2. Confirm the Sender&#8217;s Identity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#3_Strengthen_Passwords_and_Use_MFA\" >3. Strengthen Passwords and Use MFA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#4_Be_Cautious_of_Unsolicited_Calls_and_Messages\" >4. Be Cautious of Unsolicited Calls and Messages<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#5_Keep_Your_Devices_Updated_and_Secure\" >5. Keep Your Devices Updated and Secure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#6_Practice_Safe_Browsing_Habits\" >6. Practice Safe Browsing Habits<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#7_Be_Mindful_of_Your_Social_Media_Presence\" >7. Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#8_Trust_Your_Instincts\" >8. Trust Your Instincts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/social-engineering-awareness-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks\/#Final_words\" >Final words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Were you always afraid of catching malware while browsing the internet? Not to make you paranoid, but there is a bigger threat on the web that you should fear more \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">social<\/a> engineering attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Phishing, a type of social engineering attack, is on the rise. An analysis by security provider SlashNext found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2023\/01\/07\/phishing-attacks-are-increasing-and-getting-more-sophisticated.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">255 million attacks<\/a> within a six-month period in 2022. That is a 61% increase compared to 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Falling prey to these attacks can be severely harmful to your mental health. If you want to protect yourself, we are here to help. In this article, we will detail methods to fortify your defense online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Social_Engineering\"><\/span><a><\/a>What is Social Engineering?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s start by understanding what social engineering is. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enisa.europa.eu\/topics\/incident-response\/glossary\/what-is-social-engineering\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Social engineering<\/a> is a trick used by malicious actors on the internet to trick people into giving them their personal information. It can also be used to persuade victims to do things they shouldn&#8217;t do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike traditional hacking,&nbsp; social engineering doesn&#8217;t target computer programs. Instead, it tries to deceive users through their feelings and thoughts. Below are the common practices of those who use social engineering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pretend to be someone you know<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claim to be a member of a famous, reputable organization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instill fear through an imaginary threat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a sense of urgency<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask for sensitive information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urge you to click on suspicious links<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These malicious actors can reach you through emails, phone calls, text messages, chats, and even in person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Protect_Yourself_from_Social_Engineering_Attacks\"><\/span><a><\/a>How to Protect Yourself from Social Engineering Attacks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No one feels great after being scammed online. It can cause great emotional and mental distress and can even ruin lives. Thankfully, you have plenty of ways to reduce your risk of being a victim. The practices below can fortify your personal defense or <a href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/best-practices-for-securing-remote-work-environments-in-small-and-medium-businesses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">secure your remote work environment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Stay_Informed_and_Educate_Yourself\"><\/span><a><\/a>1. Stay Informed and Educate Yourself<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s important to know about social engineering attacks to defend yourself effectively. Stay updated with the latest tactics used by cybercriminals. Learn to recognize warning signs such as unexpected requests for personal information, urgent or threatening messages, or suspicious attachments or links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding how social engineers operate will help you develop a skeptical mindset and think critically before taking any action. To learn how much risk you\u2019re currently exposed to, consider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vanta.com\/resources\/risk-assessment-101-working-backwards-from-the-controls\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">performing an information security risk assessment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Confirm_the_Senders_Identity\"><\/span><a><\/a>2. Confirm the Sender&#8217;s Identity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t blindly trust unsolicited messages, even if they <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ear to be from familiar sources. Always verify the authenticity of the sender before sharing sensitive information or complying with their requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, use trusted and verified means of communication, like official websites or known contact information. These are valuable in confirming the legitimacy of the request. Remember, reputable organizations will never ask for sensitive information via email or insecure channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Strengthen_Passwords_and_Use_MFA\"><\/span><a><\/a>3. Strengthen Passwords and Use MFA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Protect your online accounts with strong and unique passwords. Combine letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using easily guessable information. Additionally, turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) if possible. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a fingerprint or a unique code sent to your mobile device, along with your password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Be_Cautious_of_Unsolicited_Calls_and_Messages\"><\/span><a><\/a>4. Be Cautious of Unsolicited Calls and Messages<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exercise caution when receiving unexpected phone calls or messages, particularly if they request personal information, financial details, or login credentials. Legitimate organizations usually don&#8217;t ask for such information over the phone. If you receive such a call, avoid sharing sensitive data and hang up. To verify the call&#8217;s legitimacy, independently contact the organization using official contact information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Keep_Your_Devices_Updated_and_Secure\"><\/span><a><\/a>5. Keep Your Devices Updated and Secure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regularly update your devices and software to protect yourself from social engineering attacks. Updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit. Also, use reputable security software, such as antivirus and anti-malware programs, and keep them up to date to effectively detect and prevent known threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Practice_Safe_Browsing_Habits\"><\/span><a><\/a>6. Practice Safe Browsing Habits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exercise caution when clicking on links or downloading files, especially from unknown or suspicious sources. Before clicking, hover over links to see their destinations and confirm they lead to legitimate websites. Be wary of shortened URLs, as they can hide the real destination. It&#8217;s best to avoid downloading files from untrusted websites or clicking on pop-up ads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Be_Mindful_of_Your_Social_Media_Presence\"><\/span><a><\/a>7. Be Mindful of Your Social Media Presence<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Be cautious about the info you share on social media. Do not post personal details such as your full name, address, phone number, or vacation plans, as social engineers can use these to target you. Adjust your privacy settings to limit the visibility of your posts and only accept friend requests from people you know and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always keep in mind that other people can access what you share online, so think twice before revealing sensitive information or engaging in discussions that may compromise your security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Trust_Your_Instincts\"><\/span><a><\/a>8. Trust Your Instincts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most importantly, trust your gut feeling. If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Social engineers often manipulate emotions like fear, urgency, or curiosity to deceive their victims. If you have doubts about the legitimacy of a request or communication, be cautious and investigate further before proceeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_words\"><\/span><a><\/a>Final words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the tips above can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to social engineering attacks. Yet, your online safety is in your hands. Being informed and proactive is crucial for protecting yourself from psychological cyber threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>by Austin Page<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Were you always afraid of catching malware while browsing the internet? Not to make you paranoid, but there is a bigger threat on the web that you should fear more \u2014 social engineering attacks. Phishing, a type of social engineering attack, is on the rise. An analysis by security provider SlashNext found 255 million attacks&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":575845,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/images.pexels.com\/photos\/60504\/security-protection-anti-virus-software-60504.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&w=1260&h=750&dpr=1","fifu_image_alt":"#Social Engineering Awareness: Protecting Yourself from Psychological Cyber Attacks","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[143524,142436,143522,143526,143525,143520,143521,143523],"class_list":["post-575843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-how-to-protect-yourself-from-social-engineering-attacks","tag-mfa","tag-protecting-yourself-from-psychological-cyber-attacks","tag-secure-your-remote-work-environment","tag-slashnext","tag-social-engineering","tag-social-engineering-awareness","tag-what-is-social-engineering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575843","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=575843"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/575843\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/575845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=575843"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=575843"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=575843"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}