--- title: BLOG | social engineering description: social engineering | Industry news and insights on Information Technology in the Boston Cambridge area, specifically for small and medium business enterprises. Supported by Focus Technology Solutions IT Consulting Firm Boston, MA. --- ![blog-and-news-banner](https://info.focustsi.com/hubfs/blog-and-news-banner.jpg "blog-and-news-banner") ## [E-manipulation: What is social engineering?](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/what-is-social-engineering) Posted by [Hannah Manning](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/author/hannah-manning) on Thu, Jun 22, 2017 So you have a Nigerian prince in your emails who seems nice enough. He’s never been anything but polite, and from the looks of it, he has had a rough time lately. As it turns out, being a prince is not as lucrative as it sounds. He just needs $12,000 from you to make it all better. You know how this story ends. You laugh it off because you know it’s a scam – you don’t know this guy, why would you ever give him money? But what happens when someone you **do** know emails you out of the blue, needing some cash? Or if a coworker asks for access to a file? Or if someone you’re pretty sure you know sends you a link that you just **have** to click? [Read More](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/what-is-social-engineering) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/what-is-social-engineering#comments-listing) Topics: [Data Security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/data-security), [cybersecurity](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/cybersecurity), [social engineering](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/social-engineering), [email security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/email-security), [BostonIT](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/bostonit) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## [W-2 Phishing Scam Happening Through Emails](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/w-2-phishing-scam-happening-through-emails) Posted by [Steven Lai](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/author/steven-lai) on Fri, Mar 24, 2017  **Scam requests for W-2's** Numerous scams have been happening through emails. The scam consist of requests for W-2 information from individuals. The scam emails are designed to look like they was sent from a CEO or other excuitive member, asking for employees W-2 information.  The FBI and IRS have posted warnings about this criminal activity and have stated the volume of the scam emails have increased drastically.    ![W2_phishing_hook_scam](https://info.focustsi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/phishing_weerapatkiatdumrong_0-1.jpg?width=455&name=phishing_weerapatkiatdumrong_0-1.jpg "W2_phishing_hook_scam") **Already Victimized** [Read More](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/w-2-phishing-scam-happening-through-emails) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/w-2-phishing-scam-happening-through-emails#comments-listing) Topics: [Data Security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/data-security), [cybersecurity](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/cybersecurity), [social engineering](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/social-engineering), [email security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/email-security), [Phishing](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/phishing) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ## [Top 10 KnowBe4 IT Security Trends for 2017](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/top-10-knowbe4-it-security-trends-for-2017) Posted by [Cathie Briggette](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/author/cathie-briggette) on Tue, Jan 03, 2017 These trends are practical things that will help you keep your network safer with improved defense-in-depth. 1. A move from being defensive to a more proactive approach to IT security, for instance application firewalls that actually work and are easy to deploy. ![Proactive.jpg](https://info.focustsi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Proactive.jpg?width=354&name=Proactive.jpg "Proactive.jpg") 2. Machine learning that *works* spreads out to legacy endpoint security tools, and is able to do real-time payload analysis to prevent ransomware attacks. 3. You will finally get affordable and smart enough network traffic analysis tools that will show if your network has been penetrated, combined with: 4. Platforms that will show you understandable threat intelligence with analytics and reporting that will dramatically shorten the "dwell time" of hackers in your network. [Read More](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/top-10-knowbe4-it-security-trends-for-2017) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/top-10-knowbe4-it-security-trends-for-2017#comments-listing) Topics: [Data Security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/data-security), [Cloud Security](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/cloud-security), [cybersecurity](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/cybersecurity), [ransomware attacks](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/ransomware-attacks), [social engineering](https://info.focustsi.com/it-services-boston/topic/social-engineering) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) | | | | --- | --- |