Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Therefore, preventing social engineering attacks is one of the best ways to avoid headaches.Therefore, some supervision helps (a lot). Quick tip to get started: remember to update the antivirus on your computer, tablet and even your cell phone. It's an important goal, but it will make all the difference in preventing cybercriminals from accessing your data.
But that's not the only precaution you can take to avoid social engineering attacks. We'll tell you more soon! But first, it's worth talking about this problem, so that you have more confidence in doing so. Follow!
After all, what is a social engineering attack? Social engineering is associated with psychological manipulation. Speaking of cybercrime, it is criminals who approach employers to obtain their personal information.
From there, they can threaten to publish them online, use them for purchases, loans and more.
There are also cases where criminals trick users and end up getting their personal passwords. So they ask for money back for their websites, for example.
Best Ways to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks Below are important tips for protecting yourself against social engineering attacks. Follow!
1. Check the origin of the message Before providing any data, it is necessary to check the origin of the message received. Is it really reliable?
One important thing is that the message often feels real. It may appear to be a genuine request from the card issuer, bank, and so on.
But one thing that banks always point out, for example, is that they don't ask for your passwords and don't send messages requesting data.
Therefore, when you receive a call, text message, email asking for data or asking you to verify information, be very careful. Your best bet is to contact whoever is requesting the information.
In other words, did your bank call? Hang up and contact us through the bank's official website. This way, if the company contacts you, you can return to work ensuring the line is secure.
Another important tip is: do not click on links received via SMS or email. If a message arrives asking you to take action, visit the company's official website and fill it out there.
2. Filter spam Email systems usually have spam filters. Use them! You will need to mark the message as spam and it will no longer arrive in your inbox.
This caution is good because it will reduce the likelihood of clicking on a product or responding to a message. After all, you won't even see the email, as it will end up in your spam folder.
3. Protect your devices As mentioned earlier in this post, you need to take care of your devices' antivirus, so remember to update the antivirus on your computer, tablet, phone, and so on.
Antiviruses reduce the chances of being infected by malware and other problems that can steal your information.
4. Be careful with your online presence. Don't show too much online. Leave details such as full name, phone number, email and more. It can be a big problem for criminals.
Also, try not to talk too much about your practice. This may be exactly what other criminals, such as kidnappers, are looking for.
Types of Social Engineering Attacks There are several types of social engineering attacks. Similar to baiting, where a person uses a contaminated USB drive and then the criminal gains access to their personal information.
There are also attacks that occur through “excuses”. Cybercriminals contact the user, for example, asking them to complete a survey. Then they ask for sensitive data and, unexpectedly, the individual fills them in.
Another common attack is Phishing, which asks for information to strengthen your email security or something similar. By clicking on the link sent, the user is directed to the fake website and provides their data.
This request, or even data verification, can also happen via phone call or SMS. In these cases, these attacks are called Vishing and Smishing.
Other common types of social engineering crimes are: Quid pro quo, where it is alleged that the user will receive something in exchange for providing their data; and Contact spamming, which aims to gain access to individual contacts.
Finally, remember that maintenance needs to be constant. There's no point in doing something and letting your guard down later. For example, a simple mistake and the use of antiviral medications can cause severe headaches.