{"id":189027,"date":"2024-02-21T19:33:53","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T19:33:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?p=189027"},"modified":"2024-02-21T19:33:53","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T19:33:53","slug":"how-to-avoid-social-engineering-attacks-that-prey-on-employee-psychology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/how-to-avoid-social-engineering-attacks-that-prey-on-employee-psychology","title":{"rendered":"How to Avoid Social Engineering Attacks That Prey on Employee Psychology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Social engineering<\/a> has emerged as a pervasive cybersecurity threat<\/a>, utilizing manipulative techniques to exploit human behavior for illicit gain.<\/p>\n

According to Verizon\u2019s data breach investigations report for 2023, an alarming 74% of breaches<\/a> involved human error. Social engineering attacks, mistakes, and misuse were the principal causes. Surprisingly, 50% of these attacks were pretexting incidents<\/a>, almost double compared to the previous year.<\/p>\n

Understanding the psychology of social engineering and its manipulative tactics is crucial for organizations to defend against such attacks. While technology plays a vital role in defense, educating the workforce on safeguarding against social engineering is equally essential.<\/p>\n

Companies can prevent social engineering in the workplace and enhance their security posture by raising awareness of the tactics and vulnerabilities exploited by social engineers. Proactive measures include implementing security awareness training programs and encouraging a culture of vigilance among employees.<\/p>\n

So, what is the best countermeasure against social engineering? Organizations can effectively mitigate the threats posed by social engineering attacks by combining technology solutions, like malware removal<\/a> tools and antivirus software<\/a> services, and informing their employees.<\/p>\n

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Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n