Episode 35 — Defend Against Phishing and Social Engineering as Initial Access Gateways
The human element is often the most targeted link in the security chain, and this episode focuses on defending against phishing and social engineering as primary initial access gateways. We define phishing as deceptive messaging aimed at stealing access or data, delivered through channels like email, text, and voice. The discussion describes the psychological triggers attackers use, such as urgency, authority, and fear, to bypass a user's normal skepticism. You will learn how to identify red flags like domain misspellings and why a culture of verification is more effective than technical controls alone. We provide a safe response script for handling high-pressure requests and explain why MFA, while helpful, does not eliminate social engineering risk. This session builds the "human firewall" needed to protect the organization from deception-based intrusions and credential theft. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
