IT Services in CT: Identifying & Preventing Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering attacks are becoming increasingly more prevalent. These types of attacks are designed to steal valuable data, which can result in identity theft and cause a whole host of issues for companies and individuals. If you are interested in learning more, the following information from IT services experts in CT will identify the various types of social engineering schemes and the best ways to avoid them:

Stranded Traveler Scam

This scam is very common. The social engineer sends a message that appears to be from a colleague's personal email, claiming that they are unable to access their company email account. They pretend to be stranded in a place that's far away and need you to wire a specified amount of money. Of course, the chances of this being a legit scenario are almost zero percent, so it is essential to notify upper management of this scheme before you ever decide to wire anyone money.

Fake Social Media Profiles

Another common scheme is the use of fake social media profiles. Cybercriminals will copy profiles of real employees and try to add others as a friend to appear as an authentic social media account. Over time, they may ask for personal information or even try to borrow money. They may also ask for confidential information in the workplace and pretend to have forgotten an access code. They'll also claim to need the information as soon as possible. Fortunately, an IT services provider in CT can help you discern the difference between legitimate and illegitimate social media profiles. If you receive any suspicious messages, it's important to notify upper management and also inform an IT provider. An IT provider can investigate the source of the message and block the profile from sending additional messages.

Additional Training & Education

One of the best ways to counteract these threats is through a partnership with an IT support company. Instead of trying to identify social engineering attacks on your own, an IT provider can give your business the professional assistance that is needed for these scams, which are ever-growing in complexity. Each employee can also receive training sessions on social engineering attacks, which are very effective in helping them avoid falling victim to these malicious scams. These training sessions can be scheduled as often as needed and are a valuable source of knowledge for new or long-time employees.

Partnering with an IT services provider in CT offers many benefits, which include protecting your organization from social engineering attacks. While it may seem like common sense, many employees fall victim to these scams if they do not have the proper training to help them identify these suspicious messages. At Kelser, cybersecurity is one of our top priorities. We understand the growing number of threats and we provide frequent updates to ensure that each company is well-protected from these cybercriminals. Contact us now if you would like to know more about social engineering attacks. We would love to discuss the many advantages of using an IT provider in today's workplace.