Social Engineering Attacks: The Secret Behind Why They Work

Today’s most skilled hackers don’t have to break into you network; they just have to ask the right individual the right question at the wrong time. That is the secret to social engineering: it does not attack your firewalls; it attacks your people.

With expert-led cybersecurity solutions tailored to your business needs, you can safeguard what truly matters, including people, information, and business operations. From defending against ransomware to preventing insider threats, help keep your business one step ahead of every threat. But most importantly, knowing how these attacks occur is your first line of defense.

What Is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is the skill of convincing individuals to reveal confidential information or perform acts that violate security. Unlike malware or brute-force attacks, social engineering is not based on technical tools but on human psychology. All types of attacks fall under social engineering, ranging from phishing emails to phone calls, text messages, and even tailgating, which is someone physically sneaking into your building.

What ties them together is the strategy: tricking someone into trusting a lie.

An underprepared team is your biggest threat. If they trust the wrong person for even a second, it can result in a data breach, financial loss, and even the disruption of your entire organization.

Why Social Engineering Works: The Psychology Behind It

Humans are wired to trust, particularly in places where they feel comfortable, such as the workplace. Thus, cyber criminals know this and take advantage of it. They then manipulate behavioral triggers from individuals to make quick, emotional choices.

Here are the most common psychological levers they pull:

1. Authority

Attackers play the role of someone in charge, like the CEO, manager, or IT admin. The message might sound professional and direct. “I need you to process this wire transfer ASAP. Don’t wait—this is time-sensitive.” People are less likely to question authority, especially under pressure.

2. Urgency

Adding a time crunch increases compliance. “Your account will be suspended in 30 minutes unless you verify now.”  Urgency overrides rational thought and encourages fast, careless clicks.

3. Fear

Scammers prey on anxiety to drive action. “There’s been suspicious activity on your account. Click here to stop unauthorized access.” Fear makes us want to “fix” things immediately, without thinking it through.

4. Greed

Sometimes, it’s the promise of a reward. “You’ve won a $100 Amazon gift card—click here to claim.”
Even cautious employees can fall for a reward that seems risk-free and easy.

What makes these tactics so dangerous is that they often appear to be part of everyday business communications. That’s why awareness and skepticism are more powerful than any firewall.

Common Forms of Social Engineering Attacks

Let’s break down the most common attack methods your team should be trained to recognize:

Phishing

The most widespread form—fraudulent emails that appear to be from trusted sources. They often contain fake links or attachments designed to harvest login credentials or install malware.

Smishing

SMS-based phishing. Short, snappy messages that trick you into clicking on malicious links or sharing personal info. Often masked as alerts from your bank, delivery services, or HR department.

Tailgating

In physical offices, someone may follow an employee into a secure area by pretending to be part of the team. All it takes is a friendly face and a fake badge.

Baiting

Leaving infected USB drives in common areas like parking lots or break rooms. Curious employees plug them in—and just like that, the attacker has access to your systems.

How to Defend Against Social Engineering

Social engineering thrives in the absence of awareness. But the good news? You can train your team to spot the signs and break the chain.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Start with Education

Hold regular security awareness training sessions. Show real examples of social engineering attempts. Teach employees how to recognize red flags like urgency, strange links, or unverified requests.

2. Slow Down the Response

Employees should be encouraged to think twice before reacting to emails or messages requesting sensitive information, money requests, or login credentials. A five-second delay can avoid a five-day crisis.

3. Always Verify

Train your team to independently verify suspicious requests. A quick call to a known number or a Slack message to the actual person can stop an attacker in their tracks.

4. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Even if the password is breached, MFA provides a second line of protection. It is one of the strongest methods to prevent unauthorized access.

5. Create Clear Reporting Channels

Make it easy for employees to report suspicious activity. Whether it’s a weird email or an odd phone call, early detection stops the spread.

Stay One Step Ahead with Concensus Technologies

Think it won’t happen to you? Think again— A Report by Verizon shows that two-thirds of breaches involve human error. That’s why having the right cybersecurity partner makes all the difference.

Concensus Technologies is Pittsburgh’s leading provider of professional cybersecurity services. We protect businesses from evolving threats with a tailored approach that includes advanced protections, strategic training, and 24/7 monitoring. 

Our purpose? To assist your company in establishing a “human firewall” so that your people become your best line of defense. Ready to equip your company with top-notch defenses? Let us assist you. We’ve got you covered, from phishing simulations to bespoke security awareness initiatives and enterprise-level threat prevention.

Contact Concensus Technologies and schedule a consultation today.