What Is Social Engineering Attack Example?

Social engineering attack examples include phishing, vishing, baiting, shoulder surfing, dumpster diving, and pretexting. In a phishing attack, attackers send emails that appear to come from a legitimate source, but actually contain malicious code or links. Vishing is a type of phishing attack that uses voice calls, often automated, to deceive victims into revealing confidential information. Baiting involves leaving malicious media or software, such as a USB stick, in a public place and then relying on the curiosity of victims to download the content. Shoulder surfing is a technique in which attackers look over the shoulder of victims to gain access to confidential information. Dumpster diving involves attackers physically searching through trash for discarded documents and other sensitive materials. And finally, pretexting involves attackers creating false identities or scenarios to gain access to confidential information.