Social engineering awareness in Intro to Computing - Flowchart & Logic Diagram

Process Overview

Social engineering is a trick used by bad people to get secret information by pretending to be someone trustworthy. This flowchart shows how to recognize and respond to social engineering attempts to keep your information safe.

Flowchart

Rectangle

Yes No↓

Rectangle

No Yes↓

Rectangle

↓

Rectangle

This flowchart shows the step-by-step process to handle unexpected requests for information, including checking if the request is suspicious, verifying identity, and deciding whether to share information or report the incident.

Step-by-Step Trace - 4 Steps

Step 1: Receive an unexpected request asking for your password.

Step 2: Ask yourself if the request seems suspicious or unusual.

Step 3: Since the request is suspicious, try to verify the identity of the requester by calling them back on a known number.

Step 4: If you cannot confirm the identity, do NOT share any information and report the incident to your security team.

Diagram

 +-------------------+       +---------------------+       +-------------------------+
 | Unexpected Request| ----> | Check if Suspicious | ----> | Verify Requester's ID   |
 +-------------------+       +---------------------+       +-------------------------+
                                                                |            |
                                                                |Yes         |No
                                                                v            v
                                                  +-------------------+  +---------------------+
                                                  | Provide Info if   |  | Do NOT Share Info &  |
                                                  | Request is Safe  |  | Report Incident      |
                                                  +-------------------+  +---------------------+

This diagram shows the flow of handling a social engineering attempt: starting from receiving a request, checking if it is suspicious, verifying the requester, and then deciding to share information or report the incident.

Flowchart Quiz - 3 Questions

What should you do first when you receive an unexpected request for sensitive information?

A Immediately share the information

B Check if the request seems suspicious or unusual

C Ignore the request without thinking

D Report the incident without checking

Key Result

Always check if a request for information is suspicious and verify who is asking before sharing anything to protect yourself from social engineering.

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