Since social engineering is now the #1 cause of cyber attacks, it is imperative for you to learn how to stop social engineering attacks against your business.
Your first step to stopping them is to learn what they are and how they work. Next, you should learn how combining security layers such as endpoint protection and email security provides the best protection.
Read on and we will accompany you every step of the way.
What is social engineering and how does it work?
Social engineering tactics are based on a simple truth: it’s easier to hack a person than it is to hack a computer. This means that social engineering attackers use deception and tricks to get their victims to willingly give up private information such as logins, passwords and even bank details.
Phishing is the most common type of social engineering attack, and it works by disguising emails as someone or something you trust. We would never click on an email with the subject line “click here to hack,” but we might click on an email titled “Refund Your Amazon Purchase – Claim Now.”
Why does combining security layers prevent social engineering?
Forrester unleashed their researchers to find the best defense against social engineering. They recommend layered defenses to prevent social engineering strategies like phishing.
Because social engineering attacks prey on the human element of cyber security, they are very good at bypassing individual layers of defense. After all, locked doors only work when the bad guys don’t have a copy of the key.
But if your business is protected by both email security and endpoint protection, attackers can spoof an employee’s email password and still be thwarted by endpoint protection. Or they may gain access to your network with an illegally obtained password, but email security stops their attack from spreading.
Stop the social engineering
Now that you know how social engineering works and the best defense against this type of cyber attack, you are well on your way to stopping social engineering.
The next step is to make sure you have the right tools to stop cybercriminals in their tracks. Review your cyber security strategy to ensure you have multiple layers of protection such as email security and endpoint protection.
Interested in gaining cyber resilience and getting a partner to help stop cyber attacks? Explore Webroot Endpoint Protection and Webroot Email Security powered by Zix.
