It’s no secret that hackers are everywhere. No matter how much technology advances and no matter how strong virtual security becomes, tech-savvy evildoers are always lurking about and trying to find a weak spot in the system.
Facebook faces this same problem. Every year, the company tries to deliver the latest and greatest in security features, and every year they have to face down hackers who want to see the social tycoon burn.
Even though the tricks hackers use vary throughout the years, there are certain social engineering techniques that are a common sight on Facebook’s platform. Keep reading to learn the tricks that they use so you can be knowledgeable – and ready.
Beware of Old Social Engineering Techniques Such as Fake Links
When you were a kid playing around on the internet, you were told by adults to be careful of fake links, especially in the form of pop-ups. All these years later, and the fake links remain – except this time, they come with a twist.
A false link that you encounter during a general web search is easy to recognize and ignore, and hackers know that. However, these days they know how to disguise it by throwing your own friends under the bus.
If you see a fishy link on Facebook that was sent by your friend, chances are it probably wasn’t. Ask your friend about the link and think twice before you go to open it, and always check to make sure your computer systems are up to date.
Keep an Eye out for Clickbait
“This Man Spotted Something at Night. You Won’t Believe What Happens!” Oh, we know what happens: you get hacked.
People love to know the gossip, no matter how funny, outlandish or utterly unbelievable that gossip may be. It doesn’t help that even some legit news sites title their articles the same way to grab attention.
Hackers use clickbait to lure curious people into their grasp. Before you know it, you’ve clicked the link, opened the “article”, and successfully gotten your computer hacked.
If it seems too unrealistic to be a scam, it most likely is.
Money Scams Are Still a Thing
You usually don’t find very many money scams on social media, but there are some social media sites like Facebook that give you the option of sending and receiving cash, and hackers take advantage of this.
For the most part, these virtual transfers are well encrypted, and getting caught up in a scam is pretty low. However, hackers use indirect means, such as gathering your banking or card information, to take what they want from you.
While money transfers are extremely helpful in a modern age, you’ll still want to keep your eyes peeled for any opening that hackers may try to get through.
We Know IT
Know that you know the common social engineering techniques that hackers use to target Facebook and other social media sites, you need to know how to protect yourself from such evil prowlers. We can help you do just that.
At Pegasus Technologies, we make IT our passion and want to make sure that companies like yours can succeed with the best tech in their corner. We offer cloud and cyber security, remote business support, data backup & disaster recovery, and much more.
Ready to get your business started off right? Contact us today and find out what we can do for you. We look forward to helping you make your company a success!
