How Attackers Are Bypassing Your Security With AUTHORITY

You’re not alone in underestimating how easily authority can be faked! In this episode of the Learn Online Security Podcast, Richard Bankert and Chris Howells expose the hidden world of authority-based social engineering attacks — a psychological tactic hackers use to bypass security by posing as trusted figures.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:
📌What social engineering really is and why authority plays a key role
📌Real-life stories of penetration tests where attackers walked out undetected
📌The psychology behind why employees hesitate to question authority
📌How scammers use urgency and fake credibility ( “Boss Gift Card Scam”) to trick staff
📌Practical security awareness tips to protect your business, team, and yourself from cyber attacks

💡 Key Takeaways:
✔ Always verify authority before granting access
✔ Train employees to recognize urgent manipulation tactics
✔ Reduce attacker “time to operate” by questioning credentials
✔ Build a security-conscious workplace culture

🎯 Perfect for:
Small business owners • IT professionals • Corporate security teams • Anyone wanting to protect themselves from cybercrime & social engineering scams

What are my next steps?
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⌚Time Stamps ⌚
00:00:00 The Shocking Reality of Authority Attacks
00:00:21 Introduction to Authority-Based Social Engineering
00:01:40 Guest Introduction: Chris Howells
00:01:56 Real-World Example: Disguised as a Worker
00:03:23 Penetration Test Story
00:05:02 The Power of Confidence in Attacks
00:07:13 Purpose of Authority Attacks
00:09:03 How to Thwart Authority Attacks
00:11:29 Gift Card Scam Case Study
00:15:01 Where Attackers Get Their Information
00:16:38 Internal Verification Systems
00:17:09 Key Defense Habits
00:17:32 Building a Security-First Culture
00:19:53 Next Week: How AI is Changing Authority-Based Attacks