Social Engineering Attacks: the why and the how
Social engineering attacks are on the rise. There has been a lot of coverage in the news recently about Cybersecurity. Marks & Spencer, Co-op and others have been the victims of cybersecurity breaches. These are big names in the retail sector but there are other, less publicised cybersecurity events happening on a daily basis that we don’t hear about. Last year over 75% of cybersecurity attacks targeted small to medium sized businesses.
Cybercriminals don’t always need advanced hacking tools or complex malware to break into your systems. Often, the easiest way in is through your people. This is the essence of social engineering—manipulating human behavior to bypass security protocols and carry out malicious actions.
These attacks can take many shapes. Whether it’s phishing emails, baiting with fake rewards, or tailgating into secure areas, the aim is always the same: influence a person’s behavior to gain access.
In this article we break down the psychology behind these tactics and show you how to build a strong line of defence—starting with your team.
The Psychology
Social engineering works because it exploits basic human instincts. Most people are naturally trusting, especially when nothing seems suspicious. Cyber attackers count on this.
By triggering that trust, they apply psychological tricks to drive action:
Greed: Promises of rewards or benefits can cloud judgment. Think: “Claim your £100 cashback—click here now!”
Authority: The attacker poses as someone in a position of power—like a supervisor or finance officer—and sends a message that sounds urgent and unquestionable. Example: “Transfer £3,000 to this account immediately and confirm.”
Urgency: These messages demand immediate action to avoid negative consequences. You may see warnings like “Your account will be locked in 5 minutes.”
Fear: Scare tactics increase anxiety and push people to act without thinking. A typical example is “Your data has been compromised—click here to prevent further damage.”
What makes these methods effective is that they often appear to be routine business communications. That’s why awareness is key.
How to Protect Your Business from Social Engineering
Defending against these threats doesn’t require complex technology—just a consistent, clear approach that everyone in your organisation understands.
1. Verify Before Acting: Always confirm requests involving financial transactions or login credentials through a separate, trusted method—like a phone call to a known number.
2. Build Awareness: Educate employees about the tactics cybercriminals use. Help them recognise the psychological tricks—authority, urgency, fear, and greed—that drive these attacks.
3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra barrier. Even if a password is stolen, a second verification step can stop unauthorised access.
4. Promote Best Practices: Make security a part of everyday operations. Avoid clicking unknown links, opening unexpected attachments, or sharing sensitive information without verification.
5. Slow Down: Encourage your team to take a moment before responding to anything that feels unusual or rushed. That brief pause can prevent a costly mistake.
6. Report Suspicious Activity: Make it simple for employees to flag anything odd. Quick reporting—whether it’s a strange email or unknown caller—can stop a threat before it spreads.
When used together, these steps create a strong, proactive defence that can drastically reduce your risk of falling victim to social engineering.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Put these strategies into action today. Strengthening your defences now means you’re better prepared when the next attack comes disguised as a routine message.
Need help implementing these protections? The team at TST is here to assist. Schedule a no-obligation consultation to evaluate your current cybersecurity setup and find out how to protect your business against social engineering attacks.
