What is Social Engineering? Definition, Tactics & Defense

Social engineering exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers use deception—phishing emails, bogus calls, fake websites or AI-generated deepfakes—to trick victims into revealing credentials, transferring funds or installing malware. The 2025 DBIR notes that the human element was involved in around 60% of breaches, underscoring the need for user awareness.

Because social engineering targets the least predictable part of a network—people—its impact can be immediate and severe:

• Financial Loss: Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams cost US $2.77 billion in losses in 2024 and are among the costliest cyber crimes.
• Data Theft & Exposure: Attackers often steal credentials, personal data and intellectual property.
• Operational Downtime: Compromised accounts can be used to deploy malware or reroute payroll and vendor payments, disrupting business operations.
• Reputational Damage: Falling for a scam undermines customer and partner trust, especially if confidential data is leaked.

Social engineering attacks typically follow these stages:

1. Reconnaissance: Attackers research targets using social media, company websites or public data to craft believable lures.
2. Hook: A tailored phishing email, phone call or message builds trust or urgency. Studies show many users click on phishing links within less than 60 seconds, highlighting the importance of immediate awareness.
3. Manipulation/Execution: Victims divulge credentials, run malicious macros, transfer funds or provide sensitive information.
4. Exit: Attackers use stolen data or persistence mechanisms for further exploitation—often pivoting to install malware or launch BEC schemes.

Explore specific techniques:

1. Phishing: Fraudulent emails and messages that trick users into revealing credentials or installing malware.
2. Deepfakes: AI-generated audio/video used to impersonate executives or trusted contacts for fraud.
3. ClickFix: A modern scam where attackers convince users to run malicious commands (e.g., copy-pasting code) under the guise of fixing an issue.
4. FileFix: An evolution of ClickFix using disguised attachments or file dialogs to execute malware.

• Detection: Technology filters many, but not all, social engineering attacks. Technical controls like Advanced Email Security can filter phishing emails and flag suspicious language, while URL Filtering blocks malicious websites used in scams.
• Response: Employees must be trained on how to respond. If they suspect they have fallen for a scam, they should immediately report the incident to IT/security, change passwords, and follow internal incident response procedures.

Technology alone cannot stop social engineering; employee training and awareness are essential.

• User Training: Regular awareness programs, phishing simulations, and clear reporting channels help staff recognize scams and respond promptly.
• Testing: Conduct regular phishing simulations and social-engineering assessments to test if your team is vulnerable; use the results to tailor training to address gaps.
• Technical Controls: Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as a strong second factor to reduce the impact of credential theft.

Technology alone cannot stop social engineering; Acronis combines technical controls with user training:

• Email Security: Filters phishing emails, detects spoofed domains and flags suspicious language before messages reach the inbox.
• URL Filtering & Web Protection: Blocks malicious websites, drive-by downloads and scripts used in scams.
• User Awareness & Training: Regular simulations and micro-learning modules teach employees to recognize phishing, deepfakes and other scams.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds a strong second factor to credentials, reducing the impact of credential theft.

See Acronis in Action

• What is Malware? Definition, Types & Protection
• What are Attack Groups?
• What is Third-Party Compromise?

What makes social engineering one of the most successful attack vectors today?

Social engineering bypasses technical defenses by manipulating human behavior. Attackers exploit trust, urgency, fear, or helpfulness to convince employees to reveal information or perform risky actions. Because it targets people rather than systems, it frequently succeeds even in environments with strong security controls. This risk is especially important for executive, IT, and compliance leaders who must account for human behavior in their defensive strategy.

How common are attacks that depend on the human element?

An estimated 68 percent of cyber incidents involve a human factor, such as an employee clicking a malicious link or providing sensitive information to an attacker. Small and midsized businesses are disproportionately affected and experience significantly more attempts per employee compared to larger enterprises. This highlights the importance of training and consistent policy enforcement.

Which types of social engineering cause the greatest financial losses?

Executives are prime targets for highly tailored attacks such as Whaling, where attackers craft personalized messages based on public information. Business Email Compromise is also extremely impactful, since attackers impersonate trusted executives to request wire transfers or changes to payment details. These attacks rarely include malware, which makes them harder for automated tools to detect and places greater importance on careful verification by finance, security, and leadership teams.

How is generative AI changing the nature of social engineering threats?

Adversaries use generative AI to create convincing fake identities, realistic emails, and polished websites. Traditional signs of phishing, such as poor spelling or formatting, are less reliable because AI-generated content appears legitimate. This raises the difficulty for both employees and security teams and requires stronger identity protections and behavioral analysis.

What are the business consequences of a successful social engineering incident?

A breach can result in stolen funds, unauthorized access to systems, identity theft, and exposure of sensitive data. Beyond direct financial loss, organizations may face legal liabilities, regulatory penalties, and lasting reputational damage. Employees involved in these incidents often experience emotional stress, which reinforces the need for a supportive, blame-free reporting culture.

What are the main techniques attackers use to gain initial access?

Common methods include phishing through email or social platforms, vishing via phone calls, and smishing through text messages. Physical attacks such as tailgating rely on manipulating an employee to grant physical entry. Other tactics include baiting with infected USB drives and quid pro quo techniques, where attackers pretend to offer support or services in exchange for information. These methods exploit trust and familiarity to bypass technical controls.

What is pretexting, and why is it so effective?

Pretexting involves creating a detailed and believable scenario to persuade someone to share information or perform an unusual action. Attackers gather background information from publicly available sources such as LinkedIn, company websites, or social media. This research allows them to build a narrative that appears credible, which increases the likelihood that the target will comply.

How do attackers use psychological principles to manipulate victims?

Threat actors take advantage of cognitive biases and emotional responses. Urgency and scarcity force quick decisions without verification. Authority creates pressure to comply with someone who appears to hold power. Personalization builds rapport and trust. Understanding these psychological levers helps security and IT teams design more effective training programs.

How can attackers bypass Multi-Factor Authentication using social engineering?

Instead of attacking the technology behind MFA, adversaries target people. They may impersonate IT support to request verification codes or exploit weaknesses in account recovery workflows. In some cases, attackers use MFA fatigue techniques, where repeated prompts wear down the user until they accidentally approve a fraudulent request. These tactics highlight the need for phishing-resistant MFA options.

How is social engineering linked to ransomware operations?

Social engineering is a common first step in ransomware attacks. Phishing is frequently used to deliver malicious links, attachments, or initial access malware. Some attackers, known as Initial Access Brokers, specialize in gaining footholds through social engineering and then selling that access to ransomware groups. This makes social engineering a critical threat to incident response and SOC teams.

What security best practices help reduce social engineering risk?

Effective defense requires training that teaches employees how to identify and report suspicious messages, especially those designed to provoke strong emotional reactions. Organizations should implement phishing-resistant MFA for essential services such as email, VPNs, and administrative accounts. Consistent reinforcement of policies helps create a culture of healthy skepticism.

Which technical controls are most effective against email and messaging attacks?

A strong DMARC policy reduces the chances of domain spoofing. Email security gateways should filter high-risk messages and block potentially dangerous attachments. Macro-based files sent from external sources should be disabled by default. Together, these controls significantly reduce the likelihood that malicious messages reach employees.

What should employees do when they receive a suspicious or urgent request?

Employees should pause and avoid interacting with links or attachments. If the request appears legitimate, they should verify the sender’s identity using known, trusted contact methods, such as a confirmed phone number or manually typed URL. This verification step is essential for preventing successful impersonation attacks.

How can organizations protect users from malicious websites, drive-by downloads, or SEO poisoning?

Protective DNS services block attempts to reach known malicious domains. Application allowlisting and EDR ensure that only approved software can run on endpoints. Sandboxed browsers provide an additional layer of isolation, helping limit the impact of web-based threats. These approaches strengthen defenses against attacks that begin with deceptive links or search results.

How do third parties and MSPs influence social engineering risk?

Attackers often target service providers because of their trusted access to client environments. Organizations should assess the cyber hygiene practices of all third parties and enforce least privilege for the access they receive. Clear contractual requirements and ongoing monitoring help reduce the likelihood that a compromise at a partner organization becomes an entry point into internal systems.