While it’s easy to blame cyberattacks on sophisticated hacking, the truth is that many attackers rely on social engineering — a craft of deception designed to manipulate people into giving up sensitive information or access. The scary part? It’s not just high-tech companies that get targeted, it’s all of us.

In the face of a continuous rise in malicious cyberattacks, businesses remain vulnerable to the ever-evolving tactics of social engineering. Unlike malware, which infects systems through malicious code, social engineering relies on manipulating individuals into divulging sensitive information.

The volume of malicious cyber attacks is increasing every year. Although many companies use the latest network security systems, they aren’t immune to the hackers’ favorite strategy — social engineering. Unlike malware, social engineering tricks people into volunteering sensitive data.

Every time we learn about a cyberattack that has affected so many businesses, we invest in security technologies that will safeguard our systems. This year, however, social engineering attacks have taken center stage in the Rio Olympics. Using various scams, hackers can circumvent network security systems by convincing gullible users into giving away sensitive information.