Social engineering: Secure the human factor before it puts you at risk

Even the best firewall and antivirus are useless if an attacker convinces your employee to open the door. Social engineering targets people, not technology - their trust, willingness to help, or fear. It is often the weakest link in the security chain, and attackers know it well.

At Haxoris we think like attackers to protect you. Our ethical hackers test your teams with realistic attack simulations and provide concrete steps to strengthen your best line of defense - your people.

Social engineering illustration

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Attack psychology

What is social engineering and why does it work?

What is social engineering? In short, it is the art of psychological manipulation that convinces a victim to take actions against their (or their company's) interests. The attacker does not try to crack a password, but tricks you into giving it away.

Instead of exploiting technical vulnerabilities, it exploits human traits:

Trust

Impersonates an authority (CEO, IT department, bank).

Fear and urgency

Creates a sense of immediate action ("Your account will be locked!").

Curiosity

Offers something tempting ("See photos from the holiday party.").

Willingness to help

Pretends to be a colleague in need.

These attacks are increasingly sophisticated and often hard to spot. That is why it is critical not only to warn employees, but to test their reactions in reality.

Tested vectors

Social engineering techniques we test

Attackers use different social engineering methods. We specialize in simulating the most common and most dangerous attack vectors to identify where your weaknesses lie.

Phishing

Attackers impersonate trusted parties, often by email, to trick victims into revealing sensitive data or clicking malicious links.

Smishing

SMS phishing where attackers send fraudulent messages to obtain personal data or redirect victims to malicious websites.

Vishing

Voice phishing includes phone calls where attackers impersonate legitimate institutions and persuade victims to provide information or take actions.

Attack technique Channel Attacker goal Example scenario
Phishing Email Steal credentials, install malware Fake email from IT with a request to reset a password via a fraudulent link.
Vishing Phone call Obtain sensitive data, authorize a transaction Attacker calls on behalf of a bank and asks for verification codes to "stop a suspicious payment".
Smishing SMS message Click a malicious link, install an app Fake SMS from a delivery service with a tracking link that leads to a malicious site.

Phishing: Testing inbox resilience

Phishing is still the most widespread attack. As part of our service we prepare a tailored phishing campaign that simulates real threats - from generic messages to sophisticated spear phishing targeting specific departments or individuals. We measure how many employees click the link, enter credentials, or download a file.

Vishing: Verifying vigilance by phone

What is vishing? It is voice phishing. Our specialists run a series of calls posing as tech support, managers, or vendors. The goal is to see what information employees are willing to share and whether they follow internal security procedures. A vishing attack is especially dangerous because voice creates a stronger sense of trust and urgency.

Smishing: Threat hidden in a text message

What is smishing? Phishing delivered via SMS. Attackers exploit the fact that people often pay more attention to text messages than emails. Our simulated smishing campaigns test whether your employees recognize fraudulent messages and avoid links that could compromise corporate phones.

How a simulated attack from Haxoris works

Our process is transparent, professional, and designed to deliver maximum value.

1

Consultation and scenario preparation

Together we define the test goals and prepare attack scenarios that match threats relevant to your company and industry.

2

Campaign execution

At the agreed time we launch the simulated campaign (phishing, vishing, or smishing). We discreetly and safely monitor all interactions.

3

Analysis and detailed report

After the campaign you receive a detailed report. Not just numbers, but a clear analysis of who reacted, how, and why, the trends, and the biggest risks.

4

Recommendations and follow-up training

The report includes concrete recommendations to improve processes and technical measures. Based on the results we propose and deliver targeted employee training that changes behavior.

Key insights for your organization

We deliver concrete recommendations to strengthen your security. The final report includes engagement metrics, trends across employee groups, and suggestions for targeted training and awareness. By understanding where weaknesses are, you can implement precise measures that reduce the risk of real phishing attacks.

Campaign results

Strengthen your best defense: Employee training

A well-trained team is the most effective defense against social engineering. Our employee training is not just a boring presentation about what phishing is. It is an interactive workshop built on the results of your simulated campaign.

Your people will learn:

  • How to spot phishing and other types of attacks in practice.
  • How to respond correctly and who to report the incident to.
  • Why they are a key part of company cybersecurity.
  • Understand the psychological tricks attackers use.

The outcome is not only theoretical knowledge, but real skills and confidence to detect and stop an attack before it causes damage.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Clients Say About Us

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

01 How long does a simulated campaign take?

The active phase usually lasts 1-3 days. The full project, including preparation, execution, and reporting, takes about 1-2 weeks depending on scenario complexity and the number of targets.

02 How often should we repeat testing?

To maintain high vigilance we recommend regular tests, ideally 2-4 times per year. Attackers constantly change tactics and employees need to keep their habits and readiness sharp.

03 What should I do if I suspect a phishing attack?

Never click links or open attachments. Do not panic. Report the incident immediately to your IT team or security manager according to internal guidelines. If you already entered credentials, change your password everywhere you used it and inform IT.

04 Why are standard antivirus tools and filters not enough?

Technical controls catch many threats, but they fail against sophisticated attacks that look legitimate. Social engineering bypasses technology and targets human psychology. Testing and training are the only way to close this gap.

Test the human factor before an attacker does - book your social engineering assessment today!

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