Social Engineering
Feliks Kravitz
Social engineering is a significant threat in the realm of cybersecurity, with human error often being the weakest link in the security chain. Cyber criminals are increasingly turning to sophisticated social engineering tactics as a highly effective and subtle way to gain access to valuable data. According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, social engineering attacks account for a significant portion of all cyber attacks, exploiting human vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive information (cisa.gov).
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that in 2020 alone, losses from cybercrime exceeded $4.2 billion in the U.S., with a substantial number of these attacks being social engineering-based (ic3.gov). The shift to remote work policies during the pandemic provided cybercriminals with a prime opportunity to capitalize on businesses looking to maintain operations while minimizing costs, resulting in a 300% increase in attacks (sysgroup.com). The human factor is a critical element in these losses, as individuals often unknowingly provide attackers with the information they need (splunk.com). This is where social engineering awareness comes into play.
By educating individuals about the tactics used in these attacks, we can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to them. In conclusion, while technology continues to advance, it is crucial to remember that the human element remains a vital component of cybersecurity. Therefore, increasing social engineering awareness is an essential step in mitigating the risks associated with cyber attacks (cybintsolutions.com, csoonline.com, computerweekly.com, varonis.com).
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#### References:
1. https://www.cisa.gov/social-engineering
2. https://www.ic3.gov/Media/Y2021/PSA210406
3. https://www.sysgroup.com/resources/blog/statistics-need-to-know-social-engineering
4. https://www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/social-engineering-attacks.html
5. https://www.cybintsolutions.com/cyber-security-facts-stats/
6. https://www.csoonline.com/article/3153707/top-cybersecurity-facts-figures-and-statistics.html
Feliks Kravitz
Cybersecurity Training Advisor
