Social Engineering Remains the Most Overlooked Gap in Cybersecurity

Security expert Serguey Shinder argues that technical defenses like firewalls and patches do little to stop attackers who manipulate employees into granting access voluntarily. Most real-world intrusions begin not with sophisticated exploits but with convincing emails impersonating colleagues, vendors, or IT staff. Shinder warns that organizations often undermine their own security culture by discouraging the friction that comes with verifying suspicious requests. He emphasizes that employees who report mistakes quickly are far more valuable than those who stay silent out of fear of blame. While technical measures like multi-factor authentication remain essential, building a workforce that feels safe being skeptical is the most effective defense against social engineering.