Many social engineering attacks typically occur through which medium?

Social engineering attacks often rely on exploiting human psychology and trust rather than technical vulnerabilities. One of the most common mediums for these attacks is email. Email provides a versatile platform for attackers to craft convincing messages that impersonate trusted entities, such as banks, colleagues, or well-known organizations. These emails may contain links to malicious websites or attachments designed to steal credentials or install malware.

Moreover, attackers take advantage of the widespread use of email for communication, making their tactics more effective as recipients may be more likely to engage with the content without scrutinizing it carefully. Phishing attacks, which are prevalent in the context of email, utilize social engineering techniques to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or downloading harmful software.

While phone calls, social media platforms, and text messages can also be used for social engineering, email remains a primary medium due to its broad reach and the ease with which deceptive messages can be disseminated. It’s important to be vigilant with any form of communication, but email is particularly notorious for these types of attacks.