الأسبوع 3 · الدرس ٢ «التهديدات السيبرانية المتقدمة» (١): معنى التهديد المتقدم وبرامج الفدية ومفهوم الهندسة الاجتماعية · 3 دروس
3
Social engineering: tricking minds
ICT Prep 2 Term 1, Unit 1, Lesson 2: pp. 22–23
GoalExplain social engineering and spot why it works on people.
New words
social engineering · tricking people into giving secret information or doing something unsafetrust · believing that someone is honest and safeurgent · said to be needing action right now; tricksters use this to stop you thinkingverify · to check that something is true, in another way
Explanation
Some attacks do not break a computer at all. Social engineering does not break into a device or a program; it works on people’s minds. It is the art of tricking people into giving secret information or doing something that is not safe. Why does it work? Because the trickster uses feelings. Trust: “I am your friend’s uncle.” Hurry: “Answer in one minute!” Curiosity: “Open this to see a secret.” Fear: “Your account will be closed.” When a message makes you feel rushed, scared or too excited, stop. Check it in another way, for example by asking the person you know in real life. This week we only learn the idea; next week we meet the three famous tricks.
Feeling used
What the trickster says
What you do
trust
“I am a friend of your family.”
check with a grown-up you know
hurry
“Do it now or you lose it!”
stop and take your time
curiosity
“Open this secret!”
do not open; ask a grown-up
fear
“Your account will be closed!”
do not reply; tell a grown-up
Worked examples
message with hurry and fear→stop→do not answer→tell a grown-up
Omar gets a message in a game chat: “I am from the game team. Tell me your secret code in one minute or you lose your points.” The message uses hurry and fear. Omar does not answer and tells his father.
A story told by a friend: a girl was given a link that said “see who likes you”. She was curious and almost clicked, but her older sister asked her to wait. Curiosity is a feeling that tricksters use.
Class activity
Write a short invented message that uses hurry. Then write the same message again, calm and polite, the way a real person would write it. Underline the words that hurry you in the first one. Do not use any real name.
Practice
1
Why is social engineering said to work on people, not on machines?
Because it tricks people instead of breaking a machine.
2
Name two feelings that tricksters use.
For example hurry and fear (also trust and curiosity).
3
A message says “Answer now or lose everything!” Which feeling does it use?
Hurry (and fear).
4
What is a safe way to check a doubtful message?
Ask the real person in another way, or ask a grown-up.
