ocial engineering remains one of

These attacks rely on psychological tricks designed to bypass technical defences by targeting human behaviour, making them especially difficult to detect and defend against. Whether it’ s a phishing email that sparks urgency, a phone call from a seemingly trustworthy source, or a fake login page crafted to mirror a familiar site, the goal is always the same: to deceive someone into giving away sensitive information or access.

The most successful social engineering attacks are built on a deep understanding of human psychology. Cybercriminals know how to exploit emotions such as fear, curiosity, trust and the desire to help. They use tactics like authority bias, urgency cues, and social proof to trick employees into making decisions they would normally avoid if they were thinking critically and calmly.

For organisations, this means that even the most advanced cybersecurity tools are only as strong as the people using them. While technology can flag suspicious activity and block known threats, it takes awareness and education to stop a well-crafted social engineering attempt.

So how can businesses train their employees to spot and resist psychological manipulation? And what tactics should they be aware of in today’ s threat landscape?

In this feature, industry experts unpack the psychological strategies most commonly used by attackers – from impersonation and pretexting to fear-based messaging and reward-driven lures. They also share practical advice on how organisations can build a culture of security awareness, develop effective training programmes and empower their people to act as the first line of defence.

Understanding the mind of the attacker is the first step in neutralising their advantage. With the right mix of education, awareness and vigilance, organisations can better protect themselves against social engineering and minimise the human vulnerabilities that cybercriminals so often exploit.

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