Building Resilience Against Social Engineering

Author: Raymond James Todd BSc (Hons) MSyI (Linkedin)

Despite its potential to cause harm, social engineering is not solely a technical flaw but is one of the most perilous forms of cyber threats. Deceptions are created by attackers using open source intelligence (OSINT) and human intelligence (HUMINT), making them extremely difficult to identify and mitigate. In the face of increasing sophistication in attacks on social systems, organisations must adopt a human-centred approach that encompasses OSINT, HUMINT, and digital identity verification. This article presents a holistic strategy for countering the various risks associated with social engineering in current cybersecurity systems.

The Role of OSINT in Contemporary Social Engineering

Most social engineering attacks rely on OSINT as their backbone because it allows attackers to gather openly available data from various sources (such as social media accounts, corporate websites, and public records). These attacks are highly convincing as they are tailored to specific individuals or organisations. In The Art of Deception, Mitnick and Simon (2002) emphasise that the strength of social engineering lies in its ability to manipulate human psychology by leveraging freely available information, crafting deceptively realistic scenarios based on this intelligence.

OSINT enables attackers to gain a comprehensive understanding of their target's role, interests, and professional networks. The initial stage, commonly referred to as "passive reconnaissance," permits hackers to generate plausible justifications and scenarios, which frequently result in phishing or impersonation attacks. These highly convincing attacks often target specific individuals or organisations.

OSINT has advanced alongside technology, and modern techniques show how public data can be transformed into exploitable vulnerabilities. For example, "Google dorking" uses specific search operators to reveal sensitive information such as configuration files, login pages, or even internal documents. Bazzell (2019) highlights that platforms like LinkedIn are particularly valuable, providing insights into employees’ roles, projects, and professional connections. Such information allows attackers to create plausible messages that appear personally relevant, increasing the likelihood of a successful phishing attack. This aligns with the Information Security Forum’s view that OSINT enables unobtrusive observation, equipping attackers with the context they need to exploit individual and organisational weaknesses.

To mitigate the impact of OSINT, organisations should conduct regular audits of their digital presence and proactively manage their online footprint. By limiting the availability of sensitive information, organisations can reduce the extent to which attackers can build realistic attack scenarios. Routine OSINT audits enhance organisational security by restricting the data available to malicious actors, making it more difficult for them to execute targeted social engineering attacks (CrowdStrike, 2023).

From OSINT to HUMINT: The Psychological Dimension of Social Engineering

Although OSINT serves as an essential information-gathering phase, HUMINT enables attackers to tailor interactions by engaging directly with their targets and interpreting responses through behavioural cues. HUMINT relies on psychological manipulation, cultural awareness, and social cues to make interactions appear authentic. As Mitnick and Simon (2002) argue, the success of social engineering lies in its psychological basis, with attackers often employing subtle cues to build trust and elicit information from targets.

The effectiveness of HUMINT in social engineering is enhanced by cultural understanding. Oriane Cohan (2023) notes that attackers can mimic an air of authenticity and personalisation if they understand a target’s cultural background and social expectations. For example, an attacker might exploit hierarchical norms by impersonating a senior executive in multinational organisations, leveraging cultural deference to authority. This nuanced understanding of cultural and social dynamics allows attackers to seamlessly blend their deceptions into cross-cultural organisational settings, making detection more difficult.

Identifying insider threats is one of the many defensive applications of HUMINT techniques. Research shows that OSINT and HUMINT-based behavioural insights enable security teams to implement better-targeted monitoring strategies. By detecting behavioural changes—such as altered communication channels, stress levels, or increased access requests—organisations can prevent the exploitation of these vulnerabilities. This aligns with the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's focus on utilising HUMINT for proactive internal threat detection (CISA, 2023).

Integrating HUMINT insights into security protocols enhances employee training, moving beyond general awareness to address specific manipulation tactics. Hadnagy (2018) introduces the concept of the "human firewall," describing a trained workforce capable of recognising and resisting social engineering. By incorporating HUMINT into training, organisations cultivate a culture of vigilance, where employees are equipped to effectively identify and counter subtle manipulation cues.

Digital Identity Verification: Defending Against Virtual Deception

With the rise of remote work and digital communication, virtual deception tactics—including deepfakes and AI-driven impersonations—have increased significantly. Digital identities can simulate trusted individuals convincingly, making it easier for attackers to deceive employees in virtual meetings, emails, or chat platforms. Russell (2023) explains that digital deception is particularly effective because it exploits the inherent trust individuals place in familiar voices or visuals, particularly in online interactions where personal verification may be limited.

To counter these threats, robust digital identity verification protocols are essential. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) and anomaly detection systems create multiple layers of security, ensuring that individuals accessing sensitive information are indeed who they claim to be. AI-driven tools, which analyse language patterns, timing, and other digital behaviours, can help identify potential impersonation attempts by detecting anomalies. Organisations should also encourage employees to verify any unexpected or sensitive requests independently, fostering a culture of caution that reduces the risk of deception (MindPoint Group, 2024).

Effective digital identity verification combines technology with informed user behaviour. As Mitnick and Simon (2002) argue, social engineering defences require not only technological measures but also a workforce that understands the importance of rigorous identity verification. Training employees to recognise unusual digital interactions makes them an integral component of organisational security, forming an additional layer of defence against modern impersonation tactics.

New Perspective: Social Engineering and Evolving Threats

Researchers, including Mouton et al. (2014), highlight that social engineering continues to evolve as attackers integrate emerging technologies into their strategies. Their research underscores the importance of understanding the dynamic nature of social engineering frameworks and tailoring defences accordingly. They argue that combining OSINT and HUMINT within a structured, continuously adapting framework can provide organisations with the agility needed to respond to these threats effectively. This perspective reinforces the argument for a multi-layered defence strategy that not only incorporates these elements but also continually evolves to meet emerging challenges.

A Strategic Defence Framework: Integrating OSINT, HUMINT, and Digital Identity Verification

To comprehensively address the risks of social engineering, organisations should adopt a security framework that integrates OSINT, HUMINT, and digital identity verification. This multi-dimensional approach provides a dynamic and adaptable defence, addressing both human and technological vulnerabilities. Key components of this framework include:

• Proactive OSINT Management and Attack Surface Reduction: Conducting regular OSINT audits helps organisations identify and limit sensitive information in public domains. By reducing exposure of critical details—such as employee roles and project information—organisations can limit attackers’ ability to create realistic social engineering scenarios (Bazzell, 2019; CrowdStrike, 2023).
• HUMINT for Enhanced Insider Threat Monitoring: Integrating HUMINT insights enables early detection of behavioural indicators that may signal susceptibility to manipulation. Monitoring changes in job performance, stress levels, or social interactions allows for targeted interventions. As Hadnagy (2018) argues, matching HUMINT insights with scenario-based training enhances employees’ ability to identify and counter manipulation tactics, fostering a vigilant and resilient workforce (Cohan, 2023; CISA, 2023).
• Multi-Layered Digital Identity Verification: In digital environments, multi-factor authentication, AI-driven anomaly detection, and rigorous identity verification processes are essential. Combined with strong verification protocols, properly training employees to recognise digital deception further strengthens organisational resilience against impersonation and deception (Russell, 2023; Information Security Forum, 2024).

Training and Awareness: Building Organisational Resilience

The cornerstone of social engineering defence is a vigilant and well-informed workforce. Training programmes that address OSINT and HUMINT techniques prepare employees to recognise and report suspicious activities. Educating employees on the risks of oversharing online is essential to reducing their exposure to OSINT-based attacks.

Organisations should also encourage employees to question and report unusual requests. Scenario-based training and behavioural awareness exercises have been shown to enhance resilience against social engineering threats. Embedding these practices into regular security training fosters a culture of vigilance, allowing employees to become active defenders against manipulation.

Conclusion: Human-Centric Adaptive Defence Against Social Engineering

As social engineering attacks become increasingly sophisticated, a human-centred adaptive defence strategy is crucial. By managing OSINT exposure, integrating HUMINT for early threat detection, and implementing comprehensive digital identity verification protocols, organisations can effectively mitigate the risks posed by social engineering. This approach is multi-dimensional, empowering employees with the knowledge and skills to identify and resist manipulative tactics.

Mitnick and Simon (2002) emphasise that human psychology remains the weakest link in security, highlighting the need for a proactive defence strategy that incorporates both technological and behavioural safeguards. A vigilant, well-trained workforce, attuned to the subtleties of social engineering, forms the backbone of a robust cybersecurity strategy, enabling organisations to withstand the complex threats of today’s digital environment.

References

• Bazzell, M. (2019). Open-Source Intelligence Techniques: Resources for Searching and Analyzing Online Information. IntelTechniques.
• CrowdStrike. (2023). What is OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence)? CrowdStrike. Available at: www.crowdstrike.com [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• CISA. (2023). Insider Threat Mitigation: Protecting Critical Infrastructure. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Available at: www.cisa.gov [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• Cohan, O. (2023). HUMINT and the Art of Disguise. Available at: https://www.ocstrategic.com/post/humint-and-the-art-of-disguise [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• Cohan, O. (2023). The Use of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in HUMINT Operations. Available at: https://www.ocstrategic.com/post/the-use-of-cultural-intelligence-cq-in-humint-operations [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• Hadnagy, C. (2018). Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking. Wiley.
• Information Security Forum (ISF). (2024). Social Engineering Attacks: Understanding OSINT to Mitigate Risk. ISF. Available at: www.securityforum.org [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• Maelainine, N. (2023). From OSINT to HUMINT: Human Connections and Intelligence. Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@ninamaelainine/from-osint-to-humint-human-connections-and-intelligence-390450def607 [Accessed 28 Oct. 2024].
• MindPoint Group. (2024). Social Engineering Part 2: Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT).
• Mitnick, K. D., & Simon, W. L. (2002). The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security.
• Mouton, F., Malan, M. M., Leenen, L., & Venter, H. S. (2014). Social engineering attack framework. Proceedings of the 2014 Information Security for South Africa (ISSA), IEEE.