Social engineering awareness in Intro to Computing - Draw & Build Visually

Draw This - beginner

Draw a flowchart that shows the steps a person should take when they receive an unexpected email asking for sensitive information. Include decision points for verifying the sender and deciding whether to respond or report the email.

10 minutes

Hint 1

Hint 2

Hint 3

Hint 4

Hint 5

Grading Criteria

Start and End symbols present

Decision diamonds used for checking sender and verification

Clear steps for verifying sender identity

Separate paths for known and unknown senders

Actions to not respond and report suspicious emails included

Flow leads to protecting personal information

Solution

  +---------------------+
  | Start: Receive Email |
  +----------+----------+
             |
             v
  +-------------------------+
  | Is sender known/trusted?|
  +-----------+-------------+
              |Yes                   |No
              v                      v
  +---------------------+   +-------------------------+
  | Is request for      |   | Verify sender identity  |
  | sensitive info?     |   +-----------+-------------+
  +-----------+---------+               |
              |Yes                   Verified?
              v                      +---+---+
  +---------------------+           |Yes| No |
  | Do not respond.     |           +---+---+
  | Report email to IT. |             |   |
  +-----------+---------+             |   v
              |                       | +---------------------+
              v                       | | Do not respond.     |
  +---------------------+           | | Report email to IT. |
  | End: Protect info    |           | +---------------------+
  +---------------------+           |
                                    v
                          +---------------------+
                          | End: Protect info    |
                          +---------------------+

This flowchart starts when a person receives an email.

First, they check if the sender is known or trusted.

If yes, they check if the email asks for sensitive information.

If it does, they do not respond and report the email to IT to stay safe.

If the sender is not known, they try to verify the sender's identity.

If verification succeeds, they follow the same rule: do not respond to sensitive requests and report.

If verification fails, they do not respond and report the email.

All paths end with protecting personal information by not sharing it and reporting suspicious emails.

Variations - 2 Challenges

[intermediate] Draw a flowchart for handling a phone call from someone claiming to be IT support asking for your password. Include steps to verify the caller and decide whether to share information or hang up.

[advanced] Draw a detailed flowchart showing how to recognize and respond to a phishing website link received via email or message. Include steps for checking URL, reporting, and avoiding clicking suspicious links.

Practice

1. What is the main goal of social engineering in computing?

easy

A. To trick people into giving private information

B. To hack computer software directly

C. To improve computer speed

D. To update antivirus software

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand social engineering basics

   Social engineering targets human behavior, not computer systems.

2. Step 2: Identify the goal of social engineering

   The goal is to trick people into revealing private or sensitive information.

3. Final Answer:

   To trick people into giving private information -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Social engineering = trick people [OK]

Hint: Social engineering targets people, not machines [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it hacks software directly
• Confusing with computer viruses
• Assuming it improves hardware

2. Which of the following is a safe practice when receiving an unexpected email asking for your password?

easy

A. Verify the sender's identity before responding

B. Click the link in the email to update your password

C. Reply with your password immediately

D. Forward the email to all your contacts

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze email safety steps

   Never share passwords or click links without verifying the sender.

2. Step 2: Choose the safest action

   Verifying the sender's identity helps avoid falling for scams.

3. Final Answer:

   Verify the sender's identity before responding -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Verify sender before sharing info [OK]

Hint: Always verify who asks before sharing info [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sharing passwords without checking
• Clicking suspicious links
• Forwarding suspicious emails

3. You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from your bank asking for your account number. What should you do?

medium

A. Give the account number immediately to avoid problems

B. Ask the caller to send an email instead

C. Share your account number only if the caller sounds polite

D. Hang up and call the bank using the official number

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify safe response to suspicious calls

   Never share sensitive info over unexpected calls without verification.

2. Step 2: Verify caller by contacting bank directly

   Calling the bank using official contact ensures legitimacy.

3. Final Answer:

   Hang up and call the bank using the official number -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Verify caller by official contact [OK]

Hint: Always verify caller by official number [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Sharing info immediately
• Trusting caller tone
• Asking for email instead (may delay but not verify)

4. Identify the mistake in this scenario: A user receives an email asking to reset their password and clicks the link without checking the sender's email address.

medium

A. The user correctly reset the password

B. The user should have checked the sender's email address first

C. The user should have replied to the email

D. The user should have forwarded the email to IT support

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the user's action

   Clicking links without verifying sender can lead to phishing attacks.

2. Step 2: Identify the correct safe practice

   Checking the sender's email address helps confirm if the email is legitimate.

3. Final Answer:

   The user should have checked the sender's email address first -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Verify sender before clicking links [OK]

Hint: Check sender email before clicking links [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming all password reset emails are safe
• Replying to suspicious emails
• Forwarding without verifying

5. A company wants to train employees to avoid social engineering attacks. Which combination of actions is best to include in the training?

hard

A. Share passwords only with managers and never change them

B. Ignore all emails and calls from unknown sources

C. Verify identity before sharing info and report suspicious messages

D. Click links quickly to avoid delays and trust polite callers

Solution

1. Step 1: Evaluate safe practices for social engineering prevention

   Ignoring all unknown contacts is impractical; sharing passwords or clicking links quickly is unsafe.

2. Step 2: Identify best training actions

   Verifying identity before sharing info and reporting suspicious messages helps prevent attacks effectively.

3. Final Answer:

   Verify identity before sharing info and report suspicious messages -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Verify and report suspicious = safe training [OK]

Hint: Verify identity and report suspicious contacts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Ignoring all unknown contacts
• Sharing passwords without checks
• Trusting callers based on tone