Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

In mid-October, traveler Bhargavii Mani claimed that she lost close to ₹1 lakh while trying to book lounge access at the Bengaluru airport.

What is Social Engineering?

Social engineering is a manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain private information, access, or valuables. In cybercrime, these “human hacking” scams lure unsuspecting users into exposing data, spreading malware infections, or giving access to restricted systems. Attacks can happen online, in person, or via other interactions.

Type of Social Engineering Attack

Baiting	Attackers use a false promise to entice victims, triggering their curiosity or greed to lure them into a trap that may steal personal information or infect their systems with malware.
Scareware	Bombard's victims with fictitious threats and false alarms create a sense of panic, prompting them to act irrationally or install harmful software.
Pretexting	Relies on crafted lies to obtain sensitive information, with attackers posing as someone in need of confidential data to complete an essential task.
Phishing	It involves e-mail or text campaigns designed to induce urgency, curiosity, or fear, encouraging victims to click on malicious links or share sensitive data.
Spear Phishing	A targeted form of phishing that is customized for a specific individual or organization to increase its likelihood of success.
Vishing	Known as voice phishing, it uses phone calls to socially engineer victims into revealing personal or financial information.
Honey Trap	An attacker pretends to be an attractive person online, establishing a fake relationship to extract sensitive information from the victim.
Rogue	Involves rogue security software, where malware deceives victims into paying for the fake removal of non-existent threats.

What is an APK file (Android Package Kit file format)?

An APK file (Android Package Kit file format) is the file format for applications used on the Android operating system (OS). An APK file contains all the data an app needs, including all of the software program's code, assets and resources.

For example, All Android apps, including those downloaded from the Google Play Store or downloaded manually, use APK files.

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CYBERSECURITY

Source:

THE HINDU

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Discuss the concept of social engineering in the context of cybersecurity. Analyze the various types of social engineering attacks and their implications for individuals and organizations. (150 words)