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As cybercriminals move towards exploiting the human element of cyber security, this article will teach you how real-world companies are safeguarding themselves to avoid becoming victims of social engineering attacks, and gain helpful pointers on how to keep your organization safe.
Social engineering attacks are among the most common and effective techniques hackers use to manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information or granting unauthorized access to company systems. Unlike traditional attacks, which rely on code or technical vulnerabilities, social engineering targets the human element – it’s about exploiting trust, curiosity, and sometimes, a degree of overconfidence in an employee’s ability to discern genuine material from a ruse. The good news is that while these attacks are sneaky, they are discernible. Here are ten practical ways to avoid social engineering attacks, each backed by real-world examples showing how organizations can and have outsmarted social engineers.
1. Re-educate Employees Continuously
A well-regarded cyber security solution provider will work with clients to create employee training programs that emphasize phishing simulation and awareness training. These sessions have been shown to increase an employee’s ability to detect a phishing scam by 68%. Statistics like that indicate that investing in cyber security training programs have dramatic returns on investment.
Continuous training can make employees more attuned to detecting to potential threats. With your employees, conduct simulated phishing attacks, update them on the latest tactics hackers use, and emphasize why every single click on a work account matters.
2. Encourage a “Verify First” Culture
Staff must understand that a zero-trust approach towards instructions is crucial, especially when dealing with financial matters and sensitive data. In 2024, a Hong Kong finance worker encountered a deep fake call from cyber criminals posing as the company’s chief financial officer. The employee was tricked into transferring $25 million to the gang, as they assumed that the call was legitimate.
Incidents like this are increasingly common, particularly in the financial sector. Emphasizing that it is always better to verify business deals than to assume that they are legitimate. When something feels off, encourage employees to follow up in person or through a secure communication channel.
3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
The popular French gaming company Ubisoft faced a targeted social engineering attack in 2023. Because they had MFA in place, the attackers couldn’t access sensitive systems even after obtaining some employees’ login details.
MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for attackers to gain access even if they get hold of passwords. With MFA, a second form of identification is required, such as a one-time code, a mobile device confirmation, or a biometric scan. While MFA does encourage increased reliance on secondary devices (such as smartphones), the rewards can be well worth the added time and expense.
4. Limit Access to Sensitive Information
Google has implemented Role-Based Access Control, ensuring that employees using google applications can only access data essential for their jobs, using Google security operations features. This proactive approach has minimized their exposure to internal social engineering attacks, by minimizing risk of unauthorized data exposure, where bad actors try to mislead employees to gain access.
Adopting a “least privilege” approach is a common-sense approach for organizations. Employees should only have access to the information they absolutely need. This way, even if an attacker attempts to compromise an individual, the attack vector is limited to the employees working on that business function, and not the larger company workforce.
5. Encourage Reporting of Suspicious Incidents
Phishing attacks are on the rise, with 91% of surveyed UK companies stating that they had experienced at least one successful email-based phishing attack in 2022. Of equal concern is the fact that more than a quarter of those companies also reported direct financial losses as result.
Make it easy for employees to report suspicious activity and ensure there’s no fear of negative repercussions. If social engineering incidents are reported early, they are easier to prevent or contain.
6. Monitor for Suspicious Network Activity
Organizations implementing real-time monitoring and system forensics can detected unusual login patterns from an employee account. Investigations may reveal that an external actor is trying a social engineering ruse, such as convincing an employee to share login details, under the guise of a legitimate update. Active monitoring will allow the organization to able to shut down the account quickly and secure the system.
Use network monitoring tools to flag unusual patterns, such as logins from unusual locations or times. By identifying strange behaviour early, you can catch social engineering attacks in progress and act before they inflict damage.
7. Teach Employees to Recognize Red Flags in Communication
Company and client communications can be easily replicated. In one well-publicized case, A Toyota parts supplier transferred the equivalent of $37 million in a wire fraud in 2020 because attackers managed to convince an employee with financial security clearance to change account information on an electronic funds transfer.
Train employees to recognize “red flags” like unusual language, a sense of urgency, or requests for sensitive information. Often, phishing emails or fake calls contain subtle clues that can reveal their true intent.
8. Use Endpoint Security Solutions
In response to a rise in ransomware attacks, many firms are adopting endpoint detection and response (EDR) software. These tools play a critical role in alerting IT staff to phishing attempts that can lead to the installation of malicious software.
Endpoint security solutions can automatically flag and block suspicious downloads, protecting your network from phishing links that might otherwise go unnoticed. Look for software that includes phishing protection, malware detection, and real-time alerts.
9. Strengthen Physical Security Measures
scams mimicking government officials and services grew in 2024, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting a loss of more than $1.1 billion as a result of such scams. Individuals with no legitimate reason to be at companies and government offices can gain access to the facilities, likely intending to compromise the company’s systems.
Implement visitor sign-in protocols, ensuring that sensitive areas are restricted. To fortify these measure, make sure that employees are trained to report unusual activity. Physical social engineering – such as “tailgating” authorized employees into secure areas – is still a very real threat.
10. Leverage Threat Intelligence
Threat intelligence involves gathering and analyzing fragmented cyber data to gain clear, evidence-based insights into the specific threats an organization faces. This approach helps identify the adversary, their tactics, motives, potential impact on the organization. Most importantly, threat intelligence can provide ways to detect or respond to the threats. Each organization's threat intelligence framework must be uniquely tailored to its business processes and risk profile, as there is no universal solution in cybersecurity.
Social engineering attacks are on the rise, and the best defense is a blend of training, technology, and vigilance. Real-life cases reveal that the right combination of strategies can allow companies to greatly reduce the chances of falling victim to these attacks. The key takeaway? Be proactive. Educate your team, monitor your networks, and leverage tools that keep you in the know. In an age where social engineers are evolving their methods constantly, staying vigilant is more essential than ever.
Explore your company’s readiness to thwart cyber attacks through social engineering. Contact Rewterz today!
