Cyber security expert warns of ‘social engineering attacks’
A cyber security expert says the more technologically advanced we become, the more the cases of cyber threats we experience.
According to US cyber security company, PurpleSec, cybercrime as a whole has increased by 600% since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
It says criminals have been taking advantage of people's fear, anxiety or panic around the pandemic to trick them into opening attachments or clicking links that they usually wouldn't.
Iraven Pillay is with the South African chapter of Information Security Chapter, which raises awareness about cyber security.
He says social engineering is one of the most common attacks targeting individuals and businesses.
"Social engineering is where you call someone and I would try to get into your system but I wouldn't try to hack into your network. I would drop like a UBS in your parking lot and that USB will have malware on it. Once you plug it into your system, it will allow me access into your computer.
"Another form of social engineering is phishing attacks, that is basically scam emails social engineering. Social engineering basically means that you are getting into a system through manipulating someone."
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