Social Engineering on Campus: Why Awareness Is Key

College campuses are buzzing with activity: students rushing to class, faculty juggling research, and staff supporting it all. In this fast-paced environment, it’s easy to overlook subtle threats that don’t come in the form of malware or firewalls.

Instead, attackers often exploit the human factor through social engineering, psychological manipulation that tricks people into giving up information, access, or resources.

Awareness training equips both students and staff with the critical thinking skills needed to spot these scams before they cause damage.

Real-World Scenarios of Social Engineering on Campus

• Tailgating into Secure Labs: A stranger carrying coffee and books might follow a faculty member into a restricted research lab, claiming they forgot their ID card. This simple tactic can lead to stolen intellectual property or compromised equipment.
• Fake Tech Support Calls: Cybercriminals pose as campus IT staff, calling students or professors to “reset a password” or “install critical updates.” Once access is granted, attackers can harvest login credentials or plant malware. Hackers may also impersonate a faculty or staff member and call the University Help Desk to gain access to accounts, claiming they forgot their password or are unable to access their secondary MFA device.
• Social Media Manipulation: Scammers often create fake profiles mimicking professors, student groups, or administrators. By befriending students or staff online, they can distribute phishing links, spread misinformation, or collect personal data for future attacks.

Each of these examples shows how attackers bypass expensive technology defenses by targeting the people who use them.

Steps to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks on Campus

The ability to recognize, thwart, and report these incidents as they unfold is the best defense. Here are actionable steps for success:

1. Strengthen Physical Access Controls
   • Encourage students and staff never to let strangers piggyback through secured doors.
   • Post reminders at entrances to research labs, dorms, and staff offices: “No tailgating. Every person must swipe their card.”
   • Train faculty and staff to politely challenge or report anyone trying to enter without proper identification.
   • Promote the use of ID cards and remind faculty to report suspicious access attempts.
   • Ensure security guards and student employees understand that “just being friendly” is not a substitute for following procedures.
2. Verify Identities Before Sharing Information
   • If someone claims to be IT support, HR, financial aid, administration, or a professor needing sensitive info, don’t hand over credentials or personal details right away. Verify their identity through official campus channels before responding.
   • Always confirm through official university channels (e.g., call the IT helpdesk directly, use the contact info listed on the school’s website).
   • Encourage staff to use “call-back” protocols where they independently verify and return the call to the official number.
   • Train Help Desk staff to always follow procedures for verifying callers’ identities.
3. Practice Smart Digital Habits
   • Students and staff should avoid oversharing on social media. Posts about exam schedules, research projects, or even vacation plans can be weaponized in phishing attacks.
   • Remind the campus community to hover over links before clicking and to double-check sender addresses for subtle misspellings.
   • Encourage using multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to block unauthorized logins.
   • Teach students and staff to think twice before accepting friend requests or clicking on links from unknown accounts, even if they appear to be from someone on campus.
4. Incorporate Ongoing Security Awareness Training into Campus Life
   • Run phishing simulations for both students and staff to create real-world practice in spotting suspicious messages.
   • Offer short, engaging workshops or gamified modules rather than long, one-time lectures.
   • Empower “cyber ambassadors” in dorms or academic departments who can act as peer mentors and keep the topic approachable.
5. Promote a “See Something, Say Something” Culture
   • Encourage faculty, staff, and students to report suspicious activities, whether it’s a stranger at a locked door or a questionable email.
   • Make reporting easy with a single, well-advertised email or hotline for suspicious activity.
   • Publicly recognize students, faculty, or staff who report potential threats, as this builds positive reinforcement.
   • Share anonymized examples of reported incidents in newsletters or campus bulletins to remind the community that vigilance works.
6. Keep Policies and Technology Updated
   • Ensure ID card systems, access controls, and account recovery processes are regularly reviewed and patched against known weaknesses.
   • Train staff on how to spot deepfake videos or AI-generated phishing emails, which are becoming more common in higher ed.
   • Align awareness efforts with compliance requirements like FERPA, HIPAA, or PCI DSS so faculty understand the regulatory stakes.

Final Thoughts

In higher education, where valuable research, sensitive student data, and financial transactions are constantly at play, social engineering remains one of the most overlooked risks. The best defense isn’t just technology, it’s people who know how to recognize and resist manipulation.

By investing in security awareness training and fostering a culture of vigilance, colleges and universities can transform students, faculty, and staff into a resilient human firewall that protects the entire campus community.

CampusGuard’s Information Security Awareness training aligns with the actionable steps mentioned above to provide your institution’s staff and students with the latest security awareness best practices for staying safe. Reach out to us today for a free demo and to get started.