Final answer:
To avoid social engineering attacks, the best practice is to verify identity before sharing information. It's also important to use strong, unpredictable passwords, be cautious with suspicious communications, protect personal items and information, use anti-virus software, monitor your credit, and manage your online privacy settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
To avoid "social engineering" attacks, it is essential to adopt good security practices. The correct answer to the question is: Verify identity before sharing information. This practice helps in ensuring that you are not divulging sensitive information to imposters or malicious actors. To enhance security further, consider the following best practices:
- Use passwords and PINs that cannot be easily guessed. Avoid predictable patterns and include a mix of characters.
- Be cautious with communication channels. Do not open suspicious emails and be wary of unsolicited requests for information.
- Protect your credit and debit cards, wallet, and mailbox to prevent any physical theft of personal information.
- Use comprehensive anti-virus software on your computer to ward off malware that might be used in social engineering attempts.
- Notify your bank or any financial institution promptly whenever you change your address or phone number to prevent your information from being misused.
- Limit the amount of personal information you share online and adjust your privacy settings accordingly.
- Be skeptical of friend requests from strangers and always question the intent behind the request.
- Regularly monitor your credit history for any unusual activity that might indicate identity theft.