Staying alert online
Cybercriminals don't just target computer systems. They also exploit human behaviour by using trust, time pressure, and people's willingness to help, in order to obtain data, money, or access. Artificial intelligence (AI) is making these scams increasingly realistic. But if you stay alert and approach unusual requests with a healthy level of scepticism, you can stay one step ahead.
Many cyberattacks today begin with psychological manipulation. In social engineering, criminals exploit people's trust and their helpful nature, or put them under pressure, in order to obtain money, data or login details. AI has made these scams more convincing than ever before. Messages, voices and even video images can now appear deceptively real. This makes it all the more important to remain sceptical and understand how these attacks work. While technical safeguards can prevent a great deal, they are no substitute for critical thinking. If you respond carefully to unusual requests, you will have less need to rely on technical safeguards as a last line of defence. Security is always a combination of human and technical measures.
How social engineering works
Social engineering is a form of manipulation used to persuade people to do something they otherwise would not do, such as disclosing confidential information, authorising a payment or installing malware.
Typical signs include:
- Scammers often pretend to be a trusted organisation or person, such as the police, a bank, a parcel delivery service or a support team.
- They exploit emotions such as fear, stress, curiosity or helpfulness.
- They usually create a sense of time pressure or urgency.
- Scammers often also build what appears to be a personal relationship.
While social engineering is a well-known method of manipulation, what's new is the speed, reach and credibility with which such attacks can now be carried out.
The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI has significantly changed social engineering. Scammers can now produce polished, convincing messages in the right tone and style, even in dialect. Voices can be imitated. Images and videos can be manipulated realistically. Even faces that are completely computer-generated and don't exist in real life can look real. As a result, traditional warning signs are becoming less effective: in the past, spelling mistakes or unprofessional design were red flags. Today, however, fraudulent content can be almost impossible to distinguish from genuine messages in terms of both language and appearance. But this doesn't mean that people can no longer protect themselves. Greater awareness and critical thinking are becoming increasingly important. The key is to trust your instincts and check whether a request makes sense and whether the behaviour you are seeing fits the person or situation in question.
The psychological tricks scammers use
Social engineering works because it exploits familiar patterns in human psychology. In everyday life, we rely on mental shortcuts, known as heuristics, to make decisions quickly and efficiently. However, these shortcuts can also make us vulnerable to errors in judgement. Cybercriminals deliberately exploit these tendencies to manipulate people or pressure them into acting rashly.
The following methods are typically used:
- Authority bias
People are less likely to question instructions from someone they perceive as an authority. For example, if someone claims to be a police officer, bank employee or government official, people are more likely to follow their instructions. If you are contacted unexpectedly, take a moment to consider whether the request is plausible before you respond. - FOMO (the fear of missing out)
Time-limited offers and exclusive investment opportunities are designed to pressure you to make quick decisions. If something seems unusually lucrative and requires immediate action, you should be especially cautious. - The foot-in-the-door technique
First, the scammer makes a small, seemingly harmless request. Once you have agreed to this, further, larger demands will follow. Gradually, you find yourself in a situation where you end up doing something you would originally have refused. If the requests change or start to escalate, do not agree to anything further and end the conversation.
Scepticism isn't about distrusting everyone
Being sceptical does not mean distrusting everyone or assuming malicious intent behind every message. It means staying alert when it matters. Taking a moment to pause, ask questions and check unusual requests helps you protect yourself without becoming suspicious of everything. Digital security is not about fear, but about taking a careful, considered approach to information.