The main forms of hacking: an overview

Social engineering

Technique in which a hacker, or social engineer, manipulates people to make them perform certain actions or disclose confidential information. There are various forms of social engineering, such as phishing, tailgating, baiting, vishing and so on.

Phishing

When a hacker tries to trick you via email so that you disclose sensitive information or take a certain action that could be dangerous to yourself or your organisation (e.g. clicking on a link, downloading an infected attachment). A phishing email often asks you to perform an urgent action. This is because hackers want to create a sense of urgency so that you react quickly and make the wrong choice.

Spear phishing

A form of phishing that is more targeted at a specific person or organisation. The hacker first researches his or her target, and then persuades the victim to perform a potentially dangerous action in the most specific and personal way possible.

Vishing

Vishing, or voice phishing, is a technique in which a hacker tries to reach his or her victims by phone. By coming across as credible as possible, the hacker aims to trick you into revealing confidential information to him or her.

Smishing

Smishing, also known as SMS phishing, is a form of phishing where the hacker tries to trick you via text messages.

Consent phishing

​ A technique where you receive an email notifying you that a file has been shared with you. When you take the action to open the file, you are presented with a 'consent' screen asking you to give permission for your data to be accessed, your contacts to be read, giving you full access to all your files and so on. Because the Microsoft logo is mentioned on the 'consent' screen, it appears to be a credible email. So don't be fooled and never accept the terms and conditions.

Tailgating

Tactic where a social engineer tries to gain physical access to your organisation, for example by using tricks to follow an employee inside. For example, he can pretend to work in your company or pretend to come to deliver something. By staying close behind the authorised person, the hacker can easily get past physical access controls. He can also force the employee to open a door, for example.

Pretexting

Technique in which a social engineer lies to obtain private data. Through a fabricated story, he or she tries to gain your trust so that you give the information the hacker wants. For example, the hacker may also pretend to be another person, such as an IT employee or an auditor.

Baiting

Baiting is a social engineering technique where tangible items are used, such as a USB stick. The hacker programs the USB stick so that when it is used, it creates a connection between the user's device and the hacker's device, and all data is collected and transmitted. The USB stick need only be left in an office, reception area, car park and so on, for a curious user to notice it and want to know what is on it.

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