The Evolution of Social Engineering in the Digital Age
Do you remember the movie Catch Me If You Can? The story centers on real-life con artist Frank Abagnale (Leonardo DiCaprio), who forges checks, impersonates pilots, and outsmarts the FBI—all without using a computer. He uses manipulative tactics to gain the trust of and defraud unlikely victims.
Now imagine Abagnale uses those same tactics, but instead of sliding behind the cockpit of your flight, or posing as a doctor or lawyer in face-to-face situations, he slides into your DMs or texts. This is modern social engineering.
Today’s cybercriminals don’t necessarily need to hack your computer—they just need to hack you. They may manipulate you to drain your finances, steal your identity, and more. And it’s not just big corporations that are targets. Every day internet users are often the easiest and most frequent victims.
Why? Because scammers know that trust can be exploited faster than any firewall can be breached.
As social engineering evolves in the digital age, how can you spot the signs? How can you protect yourself from these scams?
Let’s take a look at the warning signs of social engineering and explore tips to protect yourself in the digital age.
What is social engineering?
Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of human behavior and trust to trick people to compromise their personal or professional security. Cybercriminals might use social engineering tactics to trick their victims into sharing sensitive information, spreading malware, sending money, and more.
These tactics are often used in strategically planned schemes and in multiple forms of cyberattacks. Also referred to as “human hacking,” social engineering scams can occur through any form of communication, but as cybercriminals grow more sophisticated, their attacks are primarily digital.
For example, you might receive a private message from a celebrity you follow on social media. You don’t bother to vet the sender’s personal page because at first glance, it looks identical to the celebrity’s profile. You begin to exchange messages and willingly share requested personal information.
Chances are, you’re being targeted by a cybercriminal who’s using social engineering tactics to manipulate you into sharing information you shouldn’t.
A brief history of social engineering
Although the mediums used in social engineering attacks continue to evolve in the digital age, the criminal proclivity to gain the trust of unsuspecting targets is nothing new. For centuries, social engineering tactics have been used by con artists to bilk victims.
Here’s a brief overview of the history of social engineering:
- 1184 B.C.: The Trojan Horse: After the decade-long Greek-Trojan War, the Greeks leave a large wooden horse “peace offering” at the gates of Troy. The Trojans trust this gift and believe it’s a sign of surrender and defeat. They rolled the horse in through the city gates, and at night, the Greek soldiers hidden inside spilled out to resoundingly defeat their Trojan enemies.
- 1894: J.C. Van Marken: Dutch industrialist J.C. Van Marken first coined the term “social engineering” in an 1894 essay highlighting the need for businesses to deal with human challenges (like productivity and human behavior) in order to succeed.
- 1990s: Kevin Mitnick: Kevin Mitnick was one of the most famous, and earliest, cybercriminals of the 1980s and 1990s. His hacking prowess led to a later career as a respected cybersecurity professional. Mitnick used social engineering tactics to, among other hack attacks, manipulate the VP of Motorola Mobility to gain secure access and confidential data from the organization.
Types of social engineering cyberattacks
Many modern cyberattacks utilize social engineering tactics to ensnare unwitting victims, as human hacking is easier than exposing network or system vulnerabilities. The most common types of social engineering cyberattacks include:
- Phishing: Phishing attacks use social engineering via email and social media DMs to manipulate their victims. In 2024, 94% of all businesses were targeted in email phishing attacks.
- Ransomware: Cybercriminals may use social engineering to gain a backdoor into a network or system. Then they hold the system “for ransom.” Ransomware attacks usually target organizations and government agencies. Malicious software encrypts a victim’s files, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid.
- Whaling: Whaling attacks use social engineering to impersonate high-ranking executives (such as the CEO of your company). They want to trick employees into transferring funds or revealing confidential data.
How social engineering has evolved in the digital age
The evolution of social engineering in the digital age expands the scope and access of cybercriminals. We’re all vulnerable to social engineering because we spend so much time online. Bad actors lurk in the corners of digital interactions, looking for easy prey.
From old school phone call scams to sophisticated AI deepfakes to phishing emails, these grifters target almost everyone. They search for an “in” to vast networks of online data to breach, lure people in with a false sense of trustworthiness, and rather than spend time looking for security vulnerabilities, they “hack” people.
Sometimes the weakest link in cybersecurity isn’t the software—it’s the human behind the screen. This allows hackers to use sophisticated social engineering attacks for long-game scams that are difficult to detect.
Signs you’re being targeted by social engineering
It’s important to be aware of the signs of social engineering so that you can protect yourself. When you’re interacting with someone online or communicating with a stranger on the phone, you’re vulnerable to these attacks.
Here are some of the red flags that indicate that you’re being targeted by social engineering:
- A sense of urgency: Social engineering attacks often include a demand for immediate action. They create a sense of urgency and nudges you to suspend your critical thinking skills. For example, imagine you receive an email purportedly from a reputable brand that states that your account has been compromised and you need to “act now” or enter your personal information via a questionable link. There’s a strong possibility that the email is a scam.
- Appearance of Authority: Scammers will often pose as someone in authority to disarm people and manipulate their trust. For example, prevalent scams include fraudsters who pose as corporate executives, law enforcement officials, IRS agents, and other government officials. Social engineering authority schemes might include threats of arrest or other life-altering consequences, a call for quick action, and pressured demands to send money, among other tactics.
- Poor grammar, spelling, and syntax: Phishing emails and unsolicited personal messages often include poor grammar, misspellings, and weird syntax errors.
- Generic greetings and unsolicited requests: If you receive a phone call or email with a generic greeting such as “Dear Valued Customer,” followed by an unsolicited request for personal information, money, or immediate action, you’re being scammed.
Ways to protect yourself against social engineering attacks
The good news is that there are steps that you can take to protect yourself against social engineering attacks. By understanding the tactics used, you can more readily spot warning signs.
Simple ways that you can avoid becoming a victim of social engineering include:
- Verify sender identity: For example, if you receive a suspicious email from your bank, directly call customer support. Avoid following any links included in the email, or calling a number included in the email. Block suspicious addresses from your inbox.
- Don’t accept social media requests or messages from strangers: Keep your social media settings private. Don’t accept “friend requests” or private messages from people you don’t know. Limit the personal details you share on social media.
- Don’t accept unsolicited calls and messages: If you receive an unsolicited SMS message, phone call, voicemail, or unsolicited message via an app such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, confirm the identity of the caller or message request before accepting. Scammers often use these forms of communication to lure their prey.
Visit What Is My IP Address and check out our Easy Prey podcast and our blog to discover more about social engineering, cyberattacks, and digital security tips.
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