Final answer:
The statement that most social engineering attacks are opportunistic is true, as hackers adapt their techniques to the context to trick people into disclosing sensitive information. They use methods like phishing and pretexting to acquire data, which can be used for various criminal activities. Preventative measures include cybersecurity education and strong technical safeguards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that most social engineering attacks are opportunistic is true. Hackers use a variety of techniques depending on the situation to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. Social engineering is essentially the art of exploiting human psychology, rather than technical hacking techniques.
Hackers employ numerous tactics such as phishing, spear-phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating. Through these methods, they can induce people to click on malicious links, inadvertently install malware, or willingly provide sensitive data. The information that hackers seek to steal varies but can include login credentials, financial information, personal identification data, and corporate secrets. Once they have this information, they can engage in activities like identity theft, financial fraud, or sell the information on the black market.
To reduce or stop hacking, it is crucial to raise awareness about cybersecurity and educate people on how to recognize and avoid social engineering traps. Encouraging strong passwords, the use of multi-factor authentication, keeping software up to date, and implementing company-wide security protocols can mitigate the risk of hacking.