What is Social engineering? And How it is done!

This is the second most common technique of hacking Gmail accounts. Actually this method shouldn’t come under Hacking since there is no much knowledge required here. I am listing this method under hacking to ensure the list of most common techniques used for Gmail account hacking in their respective order. Social engineering is basically a process of gathering information about someone whose account you need to hack. Information like date of birth, their mobile number, their boyfriend / girlfriend’s mobile number, nickname, mother’s name, native place etc.
How Social Engineering works?Security QuestionMany websites have a common password reset option called Security Question. Most common security questions would be “What is your nickname?” , “What is your 10th grade score?” , “What is your native place?” or any custom questions defined by user. Obtaining these informations from the respective people might let us hack into their account. Gmail too provides security question as password recovery option.  So if anyone get to know the answer of it, they could hack your account using forgot password option.
Most Common and Weak PasswordsSecurity Question does not let you get into others Gmail account easily. But setting a weak password could easily allow any of your friends to hack into your account. What is a weak password in this scenario? A password which can be easily guessed by a third person is called weak password.  Below are some of the most common passwords people tend to use in Gmail.
Mobile NumberNickname / Name and Date of Birth ConjunctionBoy Friend’s / Girl Friend’s Mobile Number – Most of the lovers

Boy Friend’s / Girl Friend’s Name – Most of the lovers

Boy Friend and Girl Friend Name CombinationBike NumberUnused / Old Mobile NumberPet NameClosest Person Name (can be friends too)Now be honest and comment here if you are one of the people who have any one of the common passwords mentioned above. Don’t forget to change your password before making a comment

How could you protect yourself from Social Engineering? Security QuestionDon’t have a weak or familiar security question/answer. It should be known only to you. You should always keep your recovery phone number and email updated.
Most Common and Weak PasswordsVery simple. Change your Gmail password now if you have any one of the weak passwords stated above.