Every superhero faces villains, and in the digital world, social engineering is a sneaky trick used to outsmart the unwary. But with the right knowledge, you can spot these villains from a mile away.

What is Social Engineering? It’s a technique used by cybercriminals to deceive you into revealing sensitive or personal information. It can take many different forms but usually uses tactics like creating a sense of urgency, preying on your fears, or impersonating others in hopes of tricking you into sharing information. 

Here are some examples:

• Phishing, the Trojan Horse of Villains: Just like a fake distress call to lure heroes into a trap, phishing scams come disguised as urgent requests. Most technology situations don’t require you to act immediately.
• Impersonation, the Master of Disguise: Cyber villains often pose as trusted figures. Learn to unmask their disguises by verifying who’s really contacting you – ask questions that don’t have obvious answers, such as experiences you’ve shared or memories only they’d know. 

Use these Superhero tips to protect yourself:

• Trust your instincts—if it seems fishy, it probably is!
• Double-check everything before responding or clicking.
• Keep your secret lair (personal and work info) secure.
• Plus, you have a super power: the report phishing button! When you’re using Outlook to check your email and you see a suspicious message, use the “report phishing” button to call for backup! The message will be shared with cybersecurity experts who will neutralize the threat and remove it from others’ inboxes. Look at you, embracing your inner superhero!

Ultimately, you’re the hero of your cybersecurity story—don’t let social engineering villains trick you. Now, take the CSAM 2024 quiz to sharpen your powers of detection!

—Becky Klein, ITS