How can your business avoid social engineering tactics
Understand how cybercriminals use manipulation—and what your team can do to stay safe
When people think of cyberattacks, they often picture complex coding or high-tech breaches. However, the truth is that 98% of cyber attacks rely on social engineering tactics that manipulate human behavior, rather than exploiting software vulnerabilities. [1] These attacks trick people into giving up sensitive information, clicking on malicious links, or granting unauthorized access to secure systems. And because they target emotions like fear or trust, they’re alarmingly effective.
Continue reading to learn how your business can avoid these social engineering tactics.
Common social engineering tactics
Here are a few tactics hackers use to trick employees or customers into making costly mistakes:
Phishing: Fake emails or websites that steal login info by posing as trusted sources. Scammers often exploit events like natural disasters, health scares, tax season, elections, or holidays to increase urgency and boost clicks.
Vishing: Voice-based phishing attacks where scammers pretend to be from a trusted source, like your bank or IT provider.
Smishing: Phishing via SMS, often containing urgent messages or suspicious links.
Baiting: Leaving malware-infected USB drives or offering fake incentives online to lure victims into clicking or downloading.
Pretexting: Creating a fake scenario to trick someone into revealing sensitive data (e.g., pretending to be from HR or tech support).
Quid pro quo: Offering a fake service or reward in exchange for access or information.
Tailgating: Physically following someone into a secure workplace or server room without proper authorization.
Learn more:
How to recognize and avoid phishing attacks for better security
How do these tactics work
Hackers know how to push the right buttons, and social engineering attacks often succeed because they tap into powerful emotions. Fear, curiosity, greed, helpfulness, and urgency are commonly used to manipulate victims into acting without thinking. For example, a message warning that an account will be locked triggers fear, while a vague notification about a new document sparks curiosity.
Promises of free rewards play on greed, fake IT support requests target helpfulness, and countdowns or time-sensitive offers create a false sense of urgency. Recognizing these emotional triggers is the first step toward resisting them.
How your business can stay protected
To reduce your risk of falling for social engineering:
- Train your team: Educate employees about common scams and warning signs through regular cybersecurity awareness training.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA): This adds an extra layer of security, even if credentials are compromised.
- Verify before acting: Encourage staff to verify unusual requests through a separate communication channel.
- Keep systems updated: Regular updates help close security gaps that hackers exploit.
- Report suspicious behavior: Ensure employees know how and where to report questionable emails, calls, or in-person interactions.
Social engineering is one of the most effective ways for cybercriminals to breach your defenses, and it often starts with a single click or conversation. By understanding these tactics and building a culture of security awareness, your business can significantly reduce the risk.
Looking for an IT partner to help strengthen your business’s cybersecurity?
At InterNetwork IT, we offer a wide range of IT security packages tailored to meet your business’s specific needs. Our comprehensive cybersecurity services help keep your business, your team, and your customers safe from threats.
As a part of our robust cybersecurity services, we provide anti-phishing tests as an essential educational tool for you and your employees. This system sends out a ‘fake’ email to everyone in the company on a rotating schedule. Team members who click on the link and fill out a form will be redirected to educational resources to help them refresh their email security knowledge.
Ready to get started?
Contact us today to learn more!