Social Engineering 101: How Hackers Trick People

When we say hacking, most imagine someone typing on a keyboard, cracking digital doors with intricate codes. But sometimes the greatest weaknesses aren't in the systems—there are weaknesses in the people who operate them.

Welcome to social engineering—a method whereby hackers exploit human psychology in order to deceive individuals into releasing sensitive information. It's among the most widespread and perilous types of cybersecurity attacks, and technical expertise isn't needed in order to carry out.

In this blog post, we will look at what social engineering is, the types you should be on the lookout for, and some real-life examples that demonstrate just how easy it is to become a victim if you are not careful.

Prefer watching instead of reading? Here’s a quick video guide

Social engineering is the art of getting people to surrender sensitive information—such as passwords, bank information, or access to systems—without them even knowing they are being deceived.

Rather than breaking into a computer, a social engineer "breaks" into the human mind. They play on people's trust, fear, curiosity, or sense of urgency to gain what they seek.

For instance, an imposter may call you claiming to be someone from your bank and request that you confirm your account information. If you comply, you've just given them all they need—without any one line of code written.

Humans are emotional and tend to act first and think later. Social engineers are aware of this and capitalize on it. Some of the usual emotions used are:

• Trust: Impersonating someone you know or trust (such as a boss or support staff).
• Fear: Threatening legal action or terminating your account.
• Greed: Promising prizes or money.
• Curiosity: Sending malicious links that entice you to click.

It only takes one click or one reply to compromise an entire organization.

Let’s break down the most popular types of social engineering tactics you’re likely to come across:

Phishing

Phishing is the most common social engineering attack. It involves sending fake emails that look like they’re from legitimate sources (banks, companies, or even coworkers).

How it works: You receive an email saying your account is compromised. There’s a link urging you to reset your password. You click it, enter your credentials, and boom—the attacker has your login info.

Example: An employee receives an email from “IT Support” asking them to update their login credentials through a provided link. The link leads to a fake login page that captures their username and password.

Spear Phishing

This is a more focused form of phishing. Rather than sending a standard email, hackers investigate their victim and tailor the message.

How it works: The hacker may know your name, where you work, and what your position is. They send a well-designed email that appears to come from your supervisor, requesting you to transfer funds or divulge confidential information.

Example: "Hi Pawan, could you send me the latest security audit reports. I want them by 5 PM today. —Sent from my iPhone"

Since it appears urgent and addressed to someone, most people reply without doubting themselves.

Vishing (Voice Phishing)

Vishing employs phone calls rather than emails. The attackers impersonate a person from your bank, tech support, or even the IRS to steal your information.

How it works: You receive a call from a person who claims to be a bank representative informing you that there is suspicious activity on your account. They request that you confirm your account number or OTP.

Example: A scammer impersonates your telecom company and requests an OTP to "cancel a service." You provide it, and they use it to steal funds or hijack your account.

Smishing (SMS Phishing)

Similar to phishing, but via SMS.

How it happens: You get a text message with a dodgy link—usually telling you you've won something or must confirm your account.

Example: "Your package is at customs. Pay ₹50 here to get it released: [suspicious link]"

Folks click without a thought, particularly if they're awaiting a delivery.

Pretexting

In this, the attackers form a convincing story or pretext to make you spill information.

How it works: The attacker gains trust by impersonating an important person (police officer, auditor, or HR representative) and inquires to "validate your identity."

Example: An attacker calls posing as a representative from your company's HR department and indicates that there's an issue with your payroll. They request your employee ID number, address, and banking information.

Baiting

It involves leaving physical or digital "bait" to attract victims.

How it works: An attacker could leave a USB drive marked "Confidential Salary Info" in a public area. A person inserts it out of curiosity, and malware is installed.

Example: A USB drive is discovered in the office parking lot. An employee inserts it and unwittingly infects the company's network with ransomware.

Tailgating (or Piggybacking)

This is a physical type of social engineering.

How it works: An attacker accompanies an authorized individual to a restricted area by pretending to have forgotten their access card or posing as a delivery person.

Example: A delivery person in a uniform follows an employee into a secure building. Upon entering, they access computers or confidential documents.

Let us consider some real-life examples that demonstrate how dangerous social engineering can be:

Twitter Hack (2020)

Teenage hackers employed social engineering over phones to deceive Twitter employees into providing credentials. They broke into internal tools and hijacked accounts belonging to high-profile users such as Elon Musk, Barack Obama, and Apple in order to carry out a Bitcoin scam.

Target Breach (2013)

Hackers broke into Target's network via an HVAC contractor. Hackers used phishing to steal the vendor's credentials, resulting in data theft of more than 40 million credit cards.

Now that you are aware of the tricks, let's discuss how to defend against them.

For Individuals:

• Be suspicious of unsolicited messages or calls.
• Never give out OTPs or passwords to anyone.
• Verify URLs before clicking—check for typos or unusual domains.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
• Confirm by a call if a request looks suspicious (particularly regarding money or credentials).

For Organizations:

• Regularly train staff on how to identify and report social engineering.
• Utilize email filters to block suspect communications.
• Implement access controls and practice least privilege.
• Conduct simulated phishing to keep your staff on their toes.
• Monitor for suspicious activity with security tools.

Conclusion

Social engineering doesn't involve coding or pricey tools—just human mistake. So long as humans are in the picture, this attack will always be an ongoing concern.

By understanding the types and examples of social engineering, you’re already one step ahead. Awareness is your first line of defense. Stay alert, question everything, and educate others too.