Assessment item 3 – Social Engineering Essay
Length:3000 words
Humans are social creatures – it is one of our defining qualities within the animal kingdom. In the hyperconnected world of the 21st century we indulge our desire to connect and collaborate with our fellow humans via social media. As more of our lives move online, so too do the threats to our livelihoods and our privacy. Criminals have always sought to gain through exploitation of human weakness, and today’s cyber criminals use our digital footprint to improve their chances of success. As a security professional, you will need to understand and address both the technical and non-technical weaknesses that threaten the information you are charged with protecting.
For this assessment task, you will write an essay on the following:
Social Engineering: The Hidden Cost of Being Social
The primary ideas you should address in this essay are:
- A comprehensive definition and description of social engineering
- What makes social engineering so effective?
- How does our use of social media contribute to the success of social engineering?
- What technical and administrative techniques can be deployed to mitigate the threat of social engineering?
Notes
Refer to the suggested structure below and ensure that you address all the criteria. Note that the suggested headings and suggested proportion of the word count are provided as a guide to your essay structure; you are not required to strictly follow this format
| Introduction | The introduction sets the scene for the whole essay. The purpose of the introduction is to identify the topic, your point of view and the main reasons for your response. Generally, approximately 10-15% of the allocated word count.
This section will often contain the following points:
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| Body | Paragraphs in the body of the essay show your discussion of the main ideas supporting your position or response to the question. Ideas from the scholarly literature give credibility and weight to your argument. Generally, approximately 70-80% of the allocated word count.
Each paragraph should link with the previous paragraph and may include:
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| Conclusion | The purpose of the conclusion is to summarise and make final evaluative comments. It is important to refer to the essay questions. Generally, approximately 10-15% of the allocated word count.
This paragraph includes:
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| Presentation | The key elements expected for presentation of a written assignment at masters’ level:
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Rationale
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This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:
- be able to analyse information system weaknesses, and demonstrate how these make an environment vulnerable to attack.
- be able to implement countermeasures to prevent attackers causing harm to their target, and from covering their tracks.
Marking criteria and standards
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| Criteria | HD | Mark |
| Introduction and definition
Introduce the topic of Social Engineering, giving context in terms of recent events. Summarise the topic for the reader, providing a precis of the content you will explore in the body of the essay. Provide a clear, informative and comprehensive definition of Social Engineering, and how our online habits contribute to its success. |
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/15 |
| Attack and defence
The body of the essay should describe in detail the means used by successful Social Engineers, and the role played by social media in supporting these attacks. This section should showcase a recent example of a cyberattack where social engineering was a key factor and explain in detail how such attacks may be mitigated using both technical and non-technical means. |
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/50 |
| Conclusion
This section will summarise the main thesis of the essay, providing statements on how well the evidence supports the arguments made by the author. The student will evaluate the outcome of the exploration of the topic and provide insight towards additional study or research that may be needed to enhance understanding of the topic. |
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/15 |
| Presentation and referencing
Grammar, spelling and sentence structure must be accurate and professional. The format of the submission must befit a corporate or government institution. The presentation must be clean and professional, and the message always clearly conveyed. Appropriate referencing should be included using APA 7th Edition, and the reference list should contain a minimum of 6 appropriate references. |
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/20 |
| /100 |
Presentation
x
Use an report format, with correct grammatical protocols and accurate spelling, punctuation and word count.
Feel free to use headings and bullet-lists where you think this is appropriate.
APA referencing should be used unless students have made prior arrangements with the subject mentor.
equirements
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Word count for this assignment is taken seriously. The word count reflects the level of detail you are required to put into your assignment. Students who exceed the word count by more than 10% will be penalised, and students who exceed wordcounts by an excessive amount may not have their assignment marked beyond a certain point to ensure fairness to other students who have completed the assignment within the guidelines given.
