Cybersecurity is crucial for businesses as cybercriminals use social engineering techniques to steal sensitive information. Phishing, malware, and vishing are common methods used to obtain personal data. Social networking sites are also targeted for fraudulent advertising and data extraction.
Over the past decade, cybersecurity and security awareness have become an important tool for many businesses. Cybercriminals use computer software as a technique to steal secret information from individuals and companies. Social engineering is a form of cybercrime in which criminals attempt to obtain secret information from their victims through techniques of deception and persuasion. This data is later used for identity theft or to gain access to sensitive computer systems.
Phishing is a form of social engineering that uses false information to obtain personal data about an individual. This is typically done by sending an email requesting an individual to respond with their bank account number and password or other sensitive personal data. The thief will then lead the individual to an internet application which will save the personal data. This data will be used later for fraudulent purposes.
Malware is another widely used technique in social engineering. This is a form of software that is meant to nestle within a business. The software can remain inactive for several months, but when it becomes active, emails and private files can be extracted from file systems and sent over telecommunication lines to the criminal organization. Malware can come in many forms, but is usually triggered by opening an email attachment file.
Communicating in social networking sites has become popular for many people. These social environments are an area where criminals thrive. Fraudsters can obtain and use information from social networking communities for devious purposes, which frequent users of social networking sites should keep in mind.
Social networking sites are also used as an advertising ground for illegitimate websites. Having a user unknowingly select a website as a favorite link causes other users in the social community to give it a try. This fraudulent advertising scheme is widely used by criminals as a way to place worms or viruses on thousands of computers.
Vishing is a new form of social engineering that uses fake voice messages to trap consumers. These voice messages claim to be emergency calls from banks or credit companies about suspicious activity with the consumers’ account. When the consumer calls back, they are asked for their bank account information for verification purposes. This information is then stolen by the vishing expert and later used for credit and bank fraud purposes.
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