How does social engineering lead to data breaches?

Social engineering leads to data breaches by manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or granting unauthorized access. Attackers exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities, often using deception to trick employees into revealing passwords, clicking malicious links, or installing malware.

Common techniques include:

1. Phishing: Fraudulent emails or messages mimic legitimate sources (e.g., IT teams or banks) to steal credentials. Example: An employee receives an email pretending to be from the company’s IT department, asking them to reset their password via a fake link.
2. Pretexting: Attackers create a fabricated scenario to gain trust. Example: A scammer poses as a vendor and calls an employee, claiming to need login details for a "system update."
3. Baiting: Offering something enticing (e.g., free software) to lure victims into installing malware. Example: A USB drive labeled "Confidential" is left in an office, and an employee plugs it in, unknowingly infecting the network.

Example of a breach: In 2020, a major company suffered a data breach when an employee fell victim to a phishing email, handing over VPN credentials to attackers, who then accessed sensitive customer data.

To mitigate such risks, organizations should educate employees and implement security measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA). Tencent Cloud offers Tencent Cloud Security Awareness Training to help employees recognize social engineering tactics and Tencent Cloud MFA to add an extra layer of protection.