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Introduction to Social Engineering

Pretexting and Baiting

Social Engineering Techniques

Pretexting and baiting are two common social engineering techniques that cybercriminals use to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security.

Pretexting

Pretexting involves the creation of a false pretext or scenario in order to manipulate someone into providing confidential information. For example, a pretexting attacker might pretend to be a customer service representative, bank employee, or IT technician in order to gain access to a target's personal information or computer system.

Baiting

Baiting is another form of social engineering that exploits human curiosity or greed. Baiting attacks can come in various forms, such as offering free music or movie downloads, a survey with a reward, or even a misplaced USB drive. Once the victim takes the bait and falls for the trap, the attacker can gain access to corporate networks, passwords, or other sensitive information.

Both pretexting and baiting rely on exploiting the trust of the victim and the human tendency to help or be curious. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of these tactics and avoid any situation that seems suspicious or unusual. Being skeptical and verifying the identity of the person or requestor before providing any sensitive information or performing any action can prevent these types of social engineering attacks.

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