From Okwe Obi, Abuja
A cyber security expert, Benedict Joseph Oluwaseun, has complained about the hight rate of social engineering attacks, which he said poses great risk to the country’s economy.
Oluwaseun, said in a statement that the attacks take the form of impersonation, deceit, and psychological manipulation in order to take advantage of human trust and gullibility.
He said: “Criminals impersonate government officials, business executives, or family members, using emotional manipulation to extract money or information from victims.Business Email Compromise (BEC): BEC attacks target businesses by impersonating executives or suppliers, instructing employees to make fraudulent payments.”
He suggested that relevant authorities should educate Nigerians on how to protect their information and verify individuals requesting sensitive details before giving out.
“Education and Awareness: Increasing cyber security awareness through education and training is crucial. Individuals and organisations should learn to recognise social engineering tactics.
“Verification: Always verify the identity of individuals or entities requesting sensitive information or financial transactions.
“Use trusted contact details, not those provided in unsolicited messages.Cyber Hygiene: Maintain good cyber security hygiene by using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping software up to date.
“Suspicion: Be skeptical of unsolicited requests for money, information, or actions. Verify requests independently before taking any action.Reporting: Report suspected social engineering attempts to relevant authorities or organisations.
“Timely reporting can help prevent further victimisation.Legal Measures: Governments and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria must enforce strict penalties for cyber criminals engaging in social engineering.
“Business Practices: Organisations should implement robust security policies, conduct regular security awareness training, and employ email filtering and monitoring solutions to detect social engineering attempts,” he said.