Top five tips to protect yourself from social engineering

Social engineering exploits human psychology, turning trust and urgency into vulnerabilities. While technical defenses are vital, true security requires awareness and proactive actions.At OKX, we provide a new alternative by championing education and technology to keep you safe. Here’s how you can protect yourself against social engineering attacks:

TL;DR

• Be careful with unexpected messages. Think before clicking links or opening attachments.

• Watch what you post online. Limit sharing personal information.

• Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities. Use secure networks or a VPN instead.

• Enable 2FA to protect your accounts and reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

• Stay informed and learn to spot and report social engineering tactics.

1. Question the unexpected

Bad actors thrive on surprise and familiarity, often posing as trusted entities such as colleagues, banks, or even OKX itself. They employ tactics designed to elicit immediate responses, like claiming account issues or urging urgent action to avoid penalties. To counter this:

• Verify first, respond later: When you get messages, emails, or calls asking for sensitive information, check who sent them first.

• Examine links and attachments: Hover over links to check the actual URL before clicking. Malicious links often mimic legitimate ones with subtle changes, like replacing letters with similar-looking characters.

• Avoid emotional decisions: Fraudsters rely on urgency to cloud your judgment. Take a moment to pause and analyze before taking action. Trust your initial intuition. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

2. Think Before You Share

Attackers often gather details from publicly available information to craft highly personalized attacks. Oversharing online can make you an easy target. To minimize this risk:

• Limit social media exposure: Avoid posting sensitive information, such as your address, travel plans, or workplace activities. Even something as harmless as a “day-in-the-life” post can provide valuable clues to an attacker.

• Use privacy settings: Regularly review and update privacy settings on social platforms to control who can view your information.

• Think Twice About Requests: Be careful of quizzes or innocent surveys that ask for personal details—they may be ploys to collect data for attacks.

3. Avoid public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is a notorious hotspot for cybercriminals, allowing them to intercept data through man-in-the-middle attacks. When handling sensitive activities like logging into accounts or making financial transactions:

• Stick to Secure Networks: Always use private Wi-Fi or your mobile data connection for such activities.

• Use a VPN: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt your internet traffic, making it significantly harder for attackers to intercept your data. Choose a trusted provider and use it whenever you connect to public networks.

• Disable Auto-Connect: Prevent your devices from automatically connecting to nearby Wi-Fi networks, as this can expose you to risks unknowingly.

4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect your accounts. Multi or two-factor authentication (2FA/MFA) requires you to verify your identity through multiple methods, adding a robust layer of security. Here’s why and how to use it effectively:

• Choose App-Based 2FA/MFA: Authenticator apps generate time-sensitive codes, providing stronger protection compared to SMS-based 2FA, which can be vulnerable to SIM-swap attacks.

• Use Unique Passwords: Never reuse passwords across accounts. A password manager can help you generate and store complex, unique passwords securely.

• Enable 2FA/MFA Everywhere: Apply 2FA/MFA to all accounts where it’s available — not just your OKX account. This reduces the risk of a domino effect if one account is compromised.

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5. Stay Informed and Report Suspicious Behavior

Social engineering tactics are constantly evolving, making it essential to remain vigilant and informed. Familiarize yourself with these techniques, such as:

• Urgency scams: Messages or calls pressuring you to act immediately to avoid a penalty or claim a reward.

• Impersonation attempts: Fraudsters pretending to be OKX representatives or other trusted entities.

• Baiting tactics: Offering free giveaways or opportunities that sound too good to be true.

When you notice anything suspicious

• Report promptly: Alert OKX’s customer support team or your organization’s security team immediately. Early reporting can help contain potential threats and protect others from falling victim.

• Document details: Retain any communication records, such as emails or screenshots, to aid investigation efforts.

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The final word

Social engineering is a form of manipulation that exploits human behavior, often using trust and urgency to deceive victims. Protecting yourself from social engineering attacks requires more than just technical tools — it also requires awareness and the development of proactive habits.

OKX stresses education and advanced technology to keep you safe. You can take control of your online security by questioning unexpected messages, safeguarding personal information, avoiding risky public Wi-Fi, and enabling 2FA.