Social Engineering: What It Is, Types of Attacks, and How to Protect Yourself

Many people don’t realize the value of their personal data, and as a result, they share their information across various websites and platforms without any fear of the consequences. It is precisely this and other forms of cyber negligence that social engineering takes advantage of.

There’s no need to use sophisticated malware or complex security flaws—instead, cybercriminals exploit human nature, which can lead to devastating outcomes.

To better understand how social engineering works, the types of attacks, and their consequences, keep reading this article.

What Is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is a psychological manipulation technique used by criminals to obtain confidential information, access systems, or gain financial benefits. Rather than exploiting technical flaws, these attacks focus on human error, persuading victims to disclose sensitive data or perform dangerous actions.

This practice isn’t new. Long before the digital age, criminals posed as employees, technicians, or authority figures to gain access to restricted areas. In the digital world, the same concept applies through fake emails and misleading messages designed to convince the victim.

How Does Social Engineering Work?

Social engineering relies on human interaction and error, using psychological strategies.

In some cases, simple tactics like “Click here to win a prize” are used, allowing attackers to access the data of people who may not have much cybersecurity awareness or experience.

Users are tricked into violating basic security guidelines, like avoiding unknown links, which are meant to protect their own information.

And while less tech-savvy individuals are often the main targets, social engineering techniques can be used on anyone. Social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn are widely used by attackers who do research to attract new victims.

Types of Attacks Using Social Engineering

As mentioned above, there are various types of social engineering attacks. All of them aim to trick users into making mistakes that lead to access to confidential data, information, and digital environments.

Here are some examples:

Phishing Attacks

A classic example of social engineering is phishing attacks. In this technique, cybercriminals send fake messages to many people, imitating legitimate communications to deceive their victims.

Banks, credit card companies, and social media platforms are often used as bait. Criminals pose as these trusted institutions, copying their visual identity, emails, and layouts. This leads users to mistakenly follow instructions and unknowingly share sensitive, critical information.

Quid pro Quo

In this tactic, users are deceived by receiving a message—usually an email—claiming they’ve won a prize or that their computer has a serious issue.

In exchange for more information, they’re asked to provide their ID number or other personal details, which are then used to gain access to accounts or secure areas.

Contact Spamming

This type of attack is particularly dangerous. Email accounts previously compromised in data breaches are used by cybercriminals to send messages to the contact list, tricking others into clicking malicious links or sharing their data and access credentials.

The Scenario Within Large Companies

Although social engineering attacks often target individuals, they can also cause serious harm to businesses.

According to BugHunt’s 3rd National Cybersecurity Survey, 43% of institutions experienced at least one cyber scam attempt within 12 months, and 35% of the participating companies reported a phishing attempt.

These statistics show that social engineering attacks pose a real threat in the corporate environment, making employee awareness and training essential to reduce risk.

Real-World Examples of Social Engineering

Social engineering has been responsible for major security breaches. Here are a few striking examples:

Deepfake and the Multimillion-Dollar Scam

In February 2024, a multinational company fell victim to a $25.6 million scam involving illegal deepfake use.

According to the South China Morning Post, criminals digitally recreated the company’s CFO and organized a video conference where all participants—except the victim—were AI-generated avatars. During the fake meeting, money transfer orders were issued, successfully deceiving the victim.

This case highlights how social engineering, when combined with advanced technology, can result in massive financial damage.

The FACC Email Scam

Austrian aerospace manufacturer FACC lost around €42 million in a sophisticated email scam. Criminals spoofed the CEO’s email and sent an “urgent” fund transfer request to a finance department employee. Without suspecting anything, the employee made the transfer to the fraudsters' account.

This incident shows how well-crafted attacks can fool even experienced professionals.

How to Protect Yourself From These Attacks

With the examples provided, it’s clear that social engineering is a dangerous tool, and being tricked into giving up your data isn’t as unlikely as you might think.

Protecting yourself from these attacks requires more than just installing antivirus software—since what’s being exploited here is human error.

But all is not lost. Certain actions and precautions can help ensure that you and your company don’t fall victim to these traps. Here are some tips:

Always Check the Source

Even though emails or messages sent in cyberattacks may closely mimic those from legitimate companies or institutions, the sender’s source can’t be identical. Look at the sender’s email address or name.

When physical equipment is involved, know where it comes from before connecting it to your computer.

Always check the sender! Attackers often slip up in small details—a letter, a dot, or a full name that doesn’t match the real person or organization.

Be Careful With Information

Especially in cases where fake profiles impersonate people you know, verify what they actually know about you.

Ask personal questions only real acquaintances could answer. This is a great way to spot a fake profile trying to steal from you or make you click a malicious link.

Invest in the Protection of Your Devices and Systems

It’s not easy to prevent traps that use social engineering, but if you already invest in cybersecurity for your systems and devices, blocking access or recovering from damage becomes easier.

How to Create a Culture of Prevention

Awareness is key to fighting social engineering, and building a prevention-oriented culture is essential. Companies and individuals should adopt security best practices to minimize risks. Key measures include:

• Continuous Education: Regular training on cyber threats and security best practices.
• Source Verification: Always confirm the authenticity of emails, calls, and information requests.
• Access Control: Limit access to sensitive information to authorized individuals only.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Enable two-factor verification to make unauthorized access more difficult.

Creating a culture of security within companies significantly reduces the risk of attacks.

Implement a Bug Bounty Program in Your Company

To further enhance security, one way to test if your systems and devices are truly protected is to implement a Bug Bounty program.

Bug Bounty programs offer rewards to ethical hackers who attempt to breach your systems in order to identify potential vulnerabilities and areas that real cybercriminals might exploit.

BugHunt is Brazil’s first Bug Bounty platform and can help protect your company’s system. Click here to learn more.