Archives - Social Engineering


Be cautious about solicitations to meet in person for any reason

Meeting someone you’ve met online in-person for the first time can be exciting for social reasons and practical if you’re checking out merchandise before you buy it. However, sometimes people on the internet aren’t who they say they are — and they might not actually have the PlayStation 5 you’re after. If you’re meeting an […]

Don’t believe (or share) every meme you see

Memes are another common source of misinformation on social media and the internet. Because people have a natural inclination to share something if it makes them laugh, bad actors can create memes that suggest things that aren’t true in order to spread misinformation. Memes are extremely easy to produce (there are even meme generators that […]

How to avoiding social engineering and phishing attacks

Do not give sensitive information to others unless you are sure that they are indeed who they claim to be and that they should have access to the information. Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or email messages from individuals asking about employees or other internal information. If an unknown individual claims to be […]

Set login alerts and approvals for Facebook

Facebook allows you to set up alerts for when a new login attempt occurs on your account. You can choose to receive a text or email notification when your account is accessed from a new device, giving you a real-time warning of potentially suspicious activity. There’s also an option to go one step further and […]

Identify social engineering patterns in chats and direct messages

Chats and direct messages (DMs) are essential features of platforms like social media networks and online gaming service. Their acceptance makes them common channels for social engineering scams, though. Don’t click suspicious links or give out sensitive information in these online exchanges, particularly not to people you’ve just virtually met.

Double check who’s connecting with you

Before accepting that friend request or LinkedIn connection, be sure to verify they’re a real person. There are many accounts out there on various social media platforms that are there simply to spread malicious links or skim people’s personal information. If you receive a request from one of these accounts, promptly decline it then report […]