Overview of Social Engineering Attacks on Social Networks

Abstract

Social networks have become a trusted communication medium for both personal and professional communication. However, hackers regularly exploit the trust of the users of social networks for their own gain. This is often done by using phishing attacks. Phishing emails are both a scam and a business. Many companies, governments and individuals have been affected by these attacks. The most powerful tool an attacker can use to access this knowledge is Social Engineering by manipulating a person into giving information to the social engineer. It is superior to most other forms of hacking in that it can breach even the most secure systems, as the users themselves are the most vulnerable part of the system. Research has shown that Social Engineering can be easily automated in many cases and can therefore be performed on a large scale. Social Engineering has become an emerging threat in virtual communities. Information security is key to any business’s growth. This paper gives an overview of Social Engineering attacks on social networks, Social Engineering principles and types.