Understanding Social Engineering in Cyber Attacks

This is getting clever… and dangerous. ⚠️ At first glance, this looks like a standard Cloudflare “verify you’re human” page. But look closer 👇 It’s instructing the user to open PowerShell as an administrator and paste a “verification code”. That is not verification. That’s execution. This is a phishing attack designed to bypass traditional security controls by turning the user into the vulnerability. No exploit needed. No malware download prompt. Just social engineering done well. If a user follows these steps, they are effectively handing over control of their machine. A few takeaways worth sharing with your teams: - No legitimate website will ever ask you to run commands in PowerShell to “verify” anything - Anything involving admin access should immediately raise suspicion 🚩 - Attackers are shifting from technical exploits to human manipulation - Security awareness is no longer optional, it’s critical This is exactly the kind of attack that slips through if your defence strategy is purely technical. Train your people. Test your people. Protect your business. Curious to know - would your users spot this? 🤔 #CyberSecurity #Phishing #SocialEngineering #Cloudflare #SecurityAwareness #CISO #Infosec

Over one-third of cyber incidents Unit 42 responded to last year began with social engineering tactics. It's now the top method attackers use to break in. Phishing still leads with roughly 65% of these cases. But newer tools like voice cloning, SEO poisoning, fake prompts, and even MFA bombing are on the rise. These attacks often aim at privileged accounts (about two-thirds of incidents) and half impersonate internal staff or support teams. When done right, ol' reliable deception gets you domain admin in under 40 minutes. One in three of these breaches exposed data - a 16-point jump over other tactics. Business email compromise (BEC) featured in many cases, with nearly 60% of BEC incidents leading to leaked info. AI is powering this evolution. Gen‑AI and AI agents are helping craft believable lures, clone voices, and even automate recon and follow-up steps. That gives attackers scale and speed. Here's what is critical now: • Train beyond phishing. Simulate voice scams and deceptive prompts. • Bridge identity signals - detect odd behavior, not just added credentials. • Lock down privileged recovery paths and MFA logic. • Treat identity theft as a top-tier business risk. Trust your team, but verify every indicator. #cybersecurity #socialengineering #identitysecurity

Social engineering outsmarts even the best cybersecurity tools 🤯 #Google Threat Intelligence Group just uncovered a campaign where hackers exploited a modified Salesforce Data Loader app. Not through code, but through people. The attack? Old-school #vishing (voice phishing) with a modern twist: 1️⃣ Hackers impersonate IT support. 2️⃣ They call employees and direct them to a fake Salesforce “connected app” page. 3️⃣ Employees unknowingly install a malicious Data Loader. 4️⃣ Hackers gain access to query and steal corporate data Even worse? The exploit was first discovered by #Salesforce over 3 months ago and was quietly disclosed in a March blog post. That means some companies are just finding out now after the damage is done. Over 20 companies have been compromised. Some are now being extorted by different threat groups, months after the initial breach. 💥 Why social engineering is more dangerous than traditional hacking 👨🏿💻 Traditional hacking - Exploits software flaws - Can be patched - Caught by security tools 📲 Social engineering - Exploits people - Requires behavior change - Bypasses security tools entirely Security patches can’t fix human trust. That’s what makes social engineering so powerful. It uses urgency, fear, and authority to manipulate real people into doing the hacker’s work for them. 👊 What you can do about it ✅ Run regular, realistic phishing and vishing simulations ✅ Lock down access to powerful tools like Data Loader ✅ Use allowlisting for connected apps ✅ Reinforce the basics: “Pause. Think. Verify.” ✅ Educate employees that IT will never call asking them to install apps This wasn’t a zero-day. It was a human-day. Cybersecurity isn’t just a tech problem, it’s a people problem. And that means training, communication, and vigilance are non-negotiable. You can't stop what you don't know #FraudHero #socialengineering #cyberattack #cybersecurity #fraud #scam #phishing

 I wanted to take a moment to talk about a serious issue that we all need to be vigilant about: social engineering attacks. Social engineering is a form of cybercrime where attackers manipulate or trick targets into revealing information or performing actions that can lead to data exfiltration, theft of sensitive information, or financial fraud. One of the most prevalent forms of social engineering is phishing scams. Shockingly, an estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent every day! These scams often trick users into giving up confidential data, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI). Sometimes, phishing emails ask recipients to click a link or download a file, leading to an infected website or the installation of malware or ransomware on the recipient’s device. Cybercriminals often impersonate individuals close to executives, such as friends, family members, coworkers, or bosses, to commit fraud or identity theft. These targeted attacks, known as spear phishing or whaling, are designed to deceive high-profile executives. The C-suite is especially at risk after a data breach or cybersecurity incident, as threat actors use stolen confidential data to make their communications appear more convincing. Another type of social engineering attack is business email compromise (BEC). Unlike spear phishing, which targets high-level executives, BEC attacks aim to impersonate these executives. Lower-level employees may receive fake or spoofed emails from someone pretending to be an executive, leading them to disclose critical information. The financial damage caused by BEC is significant, with the FBI reporting that in 2021 alone, BEC resulted in $49.2 million in victim losses. To combat these threats, it is essential to educate all our staff on how to spot fraudulent communications. Here are some critical measures we all can take to protect ourselves from social engineering attacks, phishing, and BEC: 1. Social engineering prevention training: Regularly educate employees on the tactics used by cybercriminals and how to recognize suspicious activities. 2. Multi-factor authentication (MFA): Implement MFA to add an additional layer of security, making it harder for attackers to gain unauthorized access. 3. Message sender verification: Always verify the sender's identity before acting on any email requests, especially those asking for sensitive information. 4. Never provide sensitive or personal information through email, phone, or text: Be cautious about sharing confidential data through unsecured channels. 5. Update antivirus, anti-malware, applications, and software: Ensure that all security solutions and software are up-to-date to protect against the latest threats. By following these preventive measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to social engineering attacks. Let's stay vigilant and protect our organizations from these ever-evolving threats.

This UK bank spent £5M/year on cyber security. They were convinced that it was bulletproof. So, we sent in a man wearing a £4 high-vis jacket… and he tore it all down. Here's the full story: A few years ago, I worked with a mid-tier investment bank that wanted to prove their security was 'impenetrable.' They had a big security budget. A large internal team. And they were confident they’d pass with flying colours. So we started with the technical side: → Penetration testing (getting access to systems) → External perimeter testing → Trying every trick in the book They held strong for many months. Their technical controls were really solid. But good security doesn’t stop at the firewall. Next came the physical stage. We sent a trained agent through the front door, aiming to get access to their offices. Reception did what they were supposed to do: → Check the visitor list → Refuse when they weren’t on it Fair play — their process worked. So we went back a week later and increased the pressure. Our agent walked in during a busy time of day – queues forming, phones ringing, staff everywhere – and wore a high-vis jacket with a fake ID clipped to the front. Using social engineering, he raised the tension and made reception feel that they needed to let him through NOW. It worked. The receptionist waved him through. He • walked in • found a loose network cable • connected it to his own device • quietly hoovered up internal data until morning No alarms. No alerts. No one noticed. TAKEAWAY: The bank's firewall was sound, but their people were the biggest vulnerability. When we’re overwhelmed, we tend to default to the simplest decision: "Just let them through so I can get back to this.” You can have great policies. You can have top-tier tech. You can even test them both. But if you don’t simulate pressure, stress, and uncertainty, you're testing an ideal world and not the real one. Even the most advanced security systems can be undone by human error. Equip your team to recognise social engineering. It's your first line of defence.

Using only a few minutes of recorded audio, attackers are cloning voices in real time and then calling victims in full conversations, impersonating trusted individuals. This makes traditional vishing look quaint. Now, attackers can lean on voice impersonation that's hard to distinguish from the real thing. It changes what social engineering means, especially in organizations that rely on voice authentication, or in workflows where people might make exceptions when they “hear” someone familiar. We should expect voice-based attacks to blend seamlessly into trusted channels. Verification can't depend solely on what someone sounds like. Authentication flows need layers beyond voice, and even internal processes should require additional validation, especially for processes providing access, credentials, or system commands over the phone. #VoiceSecurity #AICyberThreats #SocialEngineeringDefense

Social engineering just overtook malware and exploits as the top way attackers break in. Unit 42 found that 36% of every incident in their response cases came through social engineering - more than any other initial access method. These attacks are no longer simple email scams. Teams saw impersonation of staff, help desk manipulation, fake pop-ups, and voice lures. One case moved from access to domain admin in under 40 minutes... and that's with no malware in play. What stands out to me: • 60% of social engineering attacks led to data exposure (16 points higher than other vectors). • Trusted teams and workflows, once held as strong defenses, are now entry points. • AI helps scale these scams via voice cloning, personalized lures, and even automated impersonation. I've seen teams lean heavily on tech tools but overlook how trust can get exploited for leverage. When human workflows are the target, defenses need identity checks, behavioral visibility, and context-driven controls. Treat social engineering like a system risk, not just a phishing alert. #Cybersecurity #SocialEngineering #ThreatIntelligence

'Growing use of social engineering capabilities by cyber adversaries across OT (operational technology) environments is driving a new class of high-consequence threats that threaten the stability of critical systems. Deception, technical compromise, and human manipulation are being combined in ways that abuse the traditional trust models on which industrial systems rely, leaving asset owners and operators to face new and emerging threats and attacks. While conventional IT breaches typically lead to data loss or financial fraud, a successful social engineering attack across OT installations has the potential to shut down production, interrupt critical services, and even threaten public safety.' https://lnkd.in/ggSzbkXP

🇰🇵 North Korean hackers targeting crypto developers with fake job offers! Security researchers have uncovered a sophisticated campaign by threat actor Slow Pisces (aka Jade Sleet) targeting cryptocurrency developers through LinkedIn. The attackers pose as employers, sending malicious Python coding challenges that deliver RN Loader and Stealer malware. This attack harvests sensitive data including system metadata, iCloud Keychain contents, SSH keys, and cloud configuration files. The same group is linked to February's massive Bybit cryptocurrency hack. 💭Things to Consider: This attack demonstrates how social engineering continues to evolve alongside technical exploits. The targeting of developers, especially in the cryptocurrency space, shows a shift toward compromising the developers rather than just the platforms they create. By focusing on the users with privileged access and using legitimate platforms like LinkedIn and GitHub as delivery mechanisms, attackers are bypassing traditional security controls and exploiting our yearning for career advancement and professional validation. ⚡PROTECT YOURSELF: Cryptocurrency developers should treat unsolicited job opportunities with extreme caution, especially those requiring you to download and run code. Always review the code in a sandboxed environment before execution, verify the legitimacy of recruiters through multiple channels, and maintain separate development environments for untrusted code. Organizations should implement security awareness training specifically addressing these sophisticated social engineering tactics. Share this warning with your developer networks as the next target could be someone you know! #HumanRiskManagement #CyberSecurity #SocialEngineering #CryptoCurrency #MalwareAlert #DeveloperSecurity #ThreatIntelligence #TrustAndVerify

THIS ISN’T JUST A SCAM. IT’S A PSYCHOLOGICAL CYBER ATTACK. 🚨 ALERT: SOCIAL ENGINEERING IS RIDING THE NEWS CYCLE AGAIN 🚨 This is not the first time current affairs have been weaponized to phish people. And it will not be the last. We saw it during COVID. Fake vaccine appointments. Bogus testing sites. Urgent health alerts designed to trigger fear and compliance. We see it during natural disasters. Fraud posing as relief agencies. Fake aid links. Exploitation of urgency and empathy. Now we are seeing it again. Recent scams impersonate government authorities and threaten deportation or legal action unless immediate payment or personal information is provided. Different storyline. Same playbook. With a massive snowstorm hitting large parts of the US, it is only a matter of time before weather-related scams follow. Fake emergency notices. Utility shutoff warnings. Storm assistance links. THE PATTERN IS ALWAYS THE SAME • Fear • Authority • Urgency • Immediate action This is no longer just a technical problem. It is a human risk problem. As cybersecurity leaders, we have prepared for ransomware, malware, credential theft, and supply chain attacks. Today’s threat actors are bypassing systems and going straight for people. WHAT LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS MUST DO ✔ Recognize that current events will always be exploited ✔ Train people to spot patterns, not just individual scams ✔ Incorporate real-world scenarios into targeted educational phishing and simulation campaigns When people recognize the pattern, fear loses its power. A REMINDER FOR EVERYONE Be vigilant. Practice basic cyber hygiene. Do not click unknown links. Do not respond to threats or fear tactics. Always pause and double-check. 🚨 IMPORTANT 🚨 DEPORTATION NOTICES AND GOVERNMENT ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS DO NOT COME VIA TEXT MESSAGE. EVER. 🙏 PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM THIS MESSAGE. AWARENESS SAVES PEOPLE. #Cybersecurity #RiskManagement #SocialEngineering #HumanRisk #SecurityAwareness #Leadership