The Science of Social Engineering: How Our Brain Makes Us Vulnerable

🔒Micro facial expressions and mirror neurons play a crucial role in our vulnerability to social engineering attacks.

🤯Making certain facial expressions can actually create the corresponding emotions in our brain.

📞Phone-based social engineering attacks, such as vishing and smishing, exploit our emotions and influence our decision-making processes.

📧Phishing remains the most common type of social engineering attack, targeting individuals through email-based scams.

🕴️Impersonation attacks, although less common, involve face-to-face interactions and carry higher risks for the attacker.

What are micro facial expressions?

—Micro facial expressions are rapid, involuntary facial movements that reveal our true emotions.

How do mirror neurons affect our decision-making processes?

—Mirror neurons cause us to experience the emotions seen on someone else's face, influencing our own reactions.

What are vishing and smishing?

—Vishing is phone-based phishing, while smishing is SMS phishing. Both involve manipulating individuals through emotional stimuli.

What is the most common type of social engineering attack?

—Phishing, which relies on email-based scams, remains the most prevalent form of social engineering.

What is impersonation in social engineering?

—Impersonation refers to face-to-face interactions where an attacker pretends to be someone else to manipulate their target.

00:00The video discusses the science behind social engineering and its impact on our vulnerability to attacks.

08:10Micro facial expressions and mirror neurons are explored, highlighting their role in emotional reactions and decision-making.

09:32Exercises are conducted to demonstrate the influence of facial expressions on our emotions.

10:35The four vectors of social engineering attacks (phishing, vishing, smishing, and impersonation) are explained.

11:09The impact of emotional manipulation and the strength of social engineering attacks is examined.