# Frightening Social Hacking Stats The Chart Informs Audience of the Alarming Viral Criminal Threats By Simal Yilmaz | Published 2013-03-14 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/social-hacking References: [veracode](http://www.veracode.com/blog/2013/03/hacking-the-mind-how-why-social-engineering-works/) Social hacking is a very real threat that everyone should be vigilantly aware and careful of. The infographic lists out some of the ways that individuals and groups attempt to hack into our minds. A researcher by the name of Chris Hadnagy had conducted a research for his book that revealed how easy it was for criminals to get access to information by taking advantage of people’s behavioral weaknesses. Social hacking can be done in the way of [stealing personal information](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scam-ai) from others that can translate into material losses. Although [viral phishing emails](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mimicai) that read “Have you seen this photo of yourself?” and “Someone has a crush on you, click this link” are far outdated for many people that are highly integrated with the internet, they certainly still pose a threat for people who are new to the technology. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.8/10 - Popularity: 24% | Activity: 23% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Education](https://www.trendhunter.com/education) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Social Hacking:** Opportunity to develop advanced security measures and educate individuals and groups on how to protect themselves against social hacking threats. - **Behavioral Weaknesses:** Potential for creating security protocols and tools that address and mitigate individuals' susceptibility to social hacking through exploiting behavioral weaknesses. - **Viral Phishing:** Space for developing innovative email security solutions that can effectively detect and block phishing emails, protecting users from falling victim to social hacking attempts. ### Where This Applies - **Cybersecurity:** A rising need for cybersecurity solutions and services that focus on protecting individuals and organizations from social hacking threats. - **Education and Training:** Demand for educational programs and workshops that raise awareness about social hacking and empower individuals and groups with comprehensive knowledge to protect themselves. - **Technology:** An opportunity for tech companies to develop advanced tools, software, and algorithms that enhance user security and privacy, tackling the issue of social hacking more effectively. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Safety-Oriented Social Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instagram-10.md) - [Fast Food Cybersecurity Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/change-your-password-day.md) - [Visualized Social Media Data](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/instagraph.md) - [Free Cybersecurity Educational Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cybersecurity-awareness.md) - [Gamified Cybersecurity Training Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cybersecurity-training-solution.md) - [Humorous Educational Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-investment-fraud.md) - [Home Safety Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-selfie-effect.md) - [AI Safety Training Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ai-hackingclub.md) - [AI-Powered Phishing Tests](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/phishing-test.md)