07/08/2025
Recently, several Ohio mental health providers have seen an increase in mental health incidences in Seniors who have been swindled out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, or their bank accounts have been stolen. Let's do our part to help keep everyone safe online!
In recognition of National Social Engineering Day we want to raise awareness about social engineering threats and promote better cybersecurity practices for our seasoned Ohio citizens.
Social engineering is a technique used by cybercriminals to manipulate people into disclosing sensitive information and compromising digital safety. These tactics can lead to unauthorized access to computers, financial accounts, or even direct monetary losses. Social engineers are skilled manipulators who exploit human psychology through seemingly genuine interactions to gather compromising information about individuals or organizations. Attackers may pose as new employees, authority figures, or use multiple contacts within an organization to piece together sensitive data. This methodical approach allows them to accumulate enough information to cause significant harm.
5 Common Social Engineering Threats
Some common forms of social engineering include:
Phishing - is when a cybercriminal attempts to acquire personal information through emails or texts that appear to come from a legitimate and reputable source.
Spear Phishing - occurs when a hacker targets specific individuals or organizations. This method is done after research on the target and has a specific personalized component.
Tailgating - is a method used to gain access to protected areas by waiting for an authorized individual to enter a secure building, then following immediately after to gain access.
Honeytrap - is a trick that targets mostly men by disguising as an attractive woman online to get them to reveal compromising information, which can then be used as blackmail against the individual or their organization.
Baiting - is a technique where attackers lure victims with tempting offers or seemingly harmless objects, such as free software downloads or USB drives, to entice them into engaging. The victim then unknowingly uses the device or installs malware, compromising device and network security.
5 Tips to Avoid Social Engineering Attacks
There are a few simple steps you can take in the fight against being hacked:
1. Verify identities: Always confirm the identity of individuals requesting sensitive information, especially through unexpected communication methods. Use an alternative communication method from the original request to confirm.
2. Be cautious with downloads: Do not download unfamiliar attachments or software, especially from people outside your organization. When in doubt, consult your IT department to confirm if they sent the software.
3. Be skeptical of unexpected requests: Question urgent or unsolicited messages asking for immediate action, especially financial requests.
4. Practice email safety: Never click on links in emails from unknown senders without checking for masked destination URLs. Hover over links to check the URL before clicking.
5. Use multi-factor authentication: Implement this multi-layer security measure to add an extra layer of protection to your accounts against social engineering.
Remember, it is always better to take a moment to confirm suspicious requests than to fall victim to a social engineering attack.
