{"id":45912,"date":"2023-06-22T12:08:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T01:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.institutedata.com\/blog\/what-is-a-social-engineering-attack-in-cyber-security\/"},"modified":"2023-06-27T11:48:46","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T00:48:46","slug":"what-is-a-social-engineering-attack-in-cyber-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.institutedata.com\/us\/blog\/what-is-a-social-engineering-attack-in-cyber-security\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Social Engineering Attack in Cyber Security?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As we rely more on technology to store and share sensitive information, cyber security has become a crucial aspect for businesses and individuals alike. However, while most people are familiar with concepts such as malware and hacking, fewer are aware of the insidious threat posed by social engineering attacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding social engineering attacks<\/h2>\n

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Definition of social engineering<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Social engineering is a form of cyber attack that relies on manipulating people into giving away sensitive information or performing actions that can compromise security. It is a type of psychological manipulation that exploits human vulnerabilities such as trust, fear, curiosity, and ignorance.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, a social engineer might call a company’s IT department pretending to be an employee who forgot their password. The social engineer might then use this opportunity to convince the IT employee to reset the password and give them access to sensitive information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Common types of social engineering attacks<\/h3>\n

The most common types of social engineering attacks include:<\/span><\/p>\n