Craig Pearson
Cyber threats don’t always come crashing through the front door – sometimes, they’re designed to slip in unnoticed. Baiting is a perfect example, a tactic designed to trick people into handing over access to business systems or sensitive data.
According to the National Cyber Security Centre, advances in AI are making social engineering attacks like baiting more realistic, increasing the chances that even the most cautious employees could be caught out.
With 16 years of experience behind us, our team at Your IT Department is here to break it down for you. We’ll share common examples of baiting attacks and, most importantly, simple steps you can take right now to protect your business.
What is Baiting?
In cyber security, baiting is a social engineering tactic where cyber criminals use a tempting offer to lure someone into revealing sensitive information, downloading malicious software, or allowing access to computer systems without realising it.
What makes baiting so effective is that it targets human behaviour rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers rely on people letting their guard down, often in situations that seem harmless or routine.
How Does Baiting Work?
Baiting tactics typically follow a simple flow: temptation, action, compromise. The attacker creates a tempting offer – it might be a free download, a giveaway, or even an unlabelled USB stick left where someone will find it. The temptation is designed to be hard to ignore, relying on curiosity or the promise of something valuable.
Once someone takes the bait, the action is triggered. This could be plugging the USB into a work device, clicking a download link, or opening a file. At this point, malware is installed, sensitive data is collected, or the attacker gains remote access to your network.
What is the Difference Between Baiting And Phishing?
Baiting attacks work by tempting someone with something that looks useful or interesting (the ‘bait’), like a free download or a USB stick. Phishing attacks, on the other hand, usually involve the criminal pretending to be someone trustworthy (like a colleague or a well-known company) to get the victim to hand over sensitive information or click a dangerous link.
The goal with both is the same – to trick someone into doing something that puts the business’s systems or data at risk, whether that’s disclosing sensitive information or downloading malware.
Common Types of Baiting Techniques
Baiting can take many forms, both physical and digital, making it a tricky attack to spot. Below are some of the most common methods businesses should be aware of.
Physical Baiting
Imagine one of your team spots a USB stick left in the office car park, clearly labelled “Employee Benefits – Confidential”. Out of curiosity – or thinking they’re doing the right thing – they plug it into their work laptop to check what’s on it. What they don’t realise is the device is loaded with malware designed to install itself the moment it’s connected, giving an attacker access to your network and sensitive data.
Malvertising
Your marketing team is searching online for stock images when a pop-up ad appears, offering discounted access to a premium photo library. The ad looks genuine, complete with branding and reviews. Keen to grab the offer, they click the link and unknowingly download malicious software that starts collecting sensitive business information in the background.
Online Downloads
A colleague is researching project management tools and comes across a website offering a free version of a popular paid software package. They download it to try it out – but hidden in the file is malware designed to monitor activity, steal passwords, and send data straight to the attacker.
Tempting Offers
One of your employees receives an email claiming they’ve won two free tickets to a major sporting event and they just need to click the link to claim their prize. The website looks convincing, but entering their details hands over business login credentials, allowing the attacker to gain access to your systems.
How to Prevent Baiting Attacks
Prevention starts with building awareness and putting the right security measures in place. Here are some practical steps your business can take to avoid baiting attacks.
Security Awareness Training
Baiting only works if someone takes the bait -that’s why awareness is your strongest defence.
Encourage your team to think critically about any offer or unexpected message they receive. Ask: “Does this seem too good to be true?” and “Where did this link or file really come from?” This mindset helps them spot baiting attempts early.
For training to be truly effective, it should also cover file management and data protection. Employees need to know the risks of handling unknown files and follow best practices for protecting sensitive information. It’s equally important to raise awareness around physical devices like USBs. Staff should know that plugging in unknown or found devices – even if they carry company branding – poses a serious risk and could introduce malware directly into your network.
Following NCSC’s recommendations, businesses should:
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Block access to physical ports (USB, SD cards) for most users.
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Only allow approved drives and cards to be used within your organisation. This lowers the risk that they could be infected with malware.
Implementing Baiting Simulations
Simulated baiting attacks are a useful way to test how your team might respond in a real-world scenario. For example, you could run a controlled test by sending fake offers or placing dummy USBs to see how employees react. It’s not about catching your employees out, but identifying any knowledge gaps and reinforcing best practices.
Using Security Tools
Preventing baiting attacks isn’t just about reacting when something goes wrong – it’s about creating strong, layered protection that stops threats before they ever reach your team.
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Keeping your firewalls and antivirus software up to date is a good starting point. These security tools offer real-time protection, scanning for and blocking malware designed to slip in through a baiting attack.
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A more complete cyber security strategy combines this with email filtering and advanced threat detection – helping to block malicious links, fake offers, and harmful attachments before they even land in your employees’ inboxes. By removing the temptation early, you reduce the risk of someone unknowingly taking the bait.
It’s also important to plan for the unexpected. Having a cyber incident response plan in place means your team knows exactly what to do in the case of a successful baiting attack. Whether it’s removing malware-infected devices or notifying your IT provider, a clear plan helps you act fast and limit any potential damage.
Cyber Security Advisory Services
Prevention is always easier with expert guidance. Working with a dedicated cyber security partner means you’re not facing these risks alone.
Cyber security advisory services provide your business with ongoing support, expert advice, and up-to-date knowledge of the latest threats, including emerging baiting techniques. A trusted advisor can review your existing policies, run risk assessments, and recommend tailored strategies that strengthen your overall cyber resilience.
Keeping You Safe: Your IT Department
Imagine not having to worry about cyber attacks disrupting your business, draining your time, or putting your reputation at risk.
With Your IT Department as your outsourced cyber security partner, that’s exactly what you get – proactive protection that works in the background, so your team can focus on what they do best.
The result? Fewer interruptions, stronger client trust, and confidence that your business is always one step ahead of cyber criminals. Here’s how it works:
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24/7 Monitoring and Proactive Threat Hunting: We don’t wait for something to go wrong. Threats like malware or data theft attempts are spotted and stopped before they disrupt your business or cost you money.
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Advanced Email Protection: Our AI-driven system learns your team’s normal communication patterns. Malicious emails and baiting attempts are blocked before they ever reach your inbox, massively reducing the risk of someone clicking or downloading something harmful.
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Staff Training That Builds Real-World Awareness: Regular, easy-to-digest training for employees designed to fit around your day – not disrupt it.
And that’s just the start. Our cyber security services cover far more, giving you complete protection in every area of your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about baiting? We’ve covered a few of the most common ones below. Reach out to our team for more advice or our outsource it services
What is an Example of Baiting?
An example of baiting could be a sealed package delivered to your office, containing a professional-looking portable hard drive and a note that reads: “Company Data Backup – Please upload immediately.”
Believing it’s legitimate – or simply not wanting to delay something that sounds important – a staff member plugs it into their computer. What they don’t realise is the device is loaded with malware, silently installing itself and giving attackers access to your network.
What is Spear Baiting?
Spear baiting is a more targeted version of a baiting attack. Instead of using a generic offer, cyber criminals research your business, your industry, and even your employees to create a highly personalised trap.
For example, they might send an email offering exclusive early access to industry-specific software, something your team is genuinely interested in. Because it feels relevant and legitimate, your team is far more likely to engage – giving attackers the perfect opening to install malware or steal sensitive data.
Who Do Baiting Attacks Target?
Both SMBs and large enterprises are at risk of baiting. Smaller businesses can be seen as easier targets, while larger organisations are attractive for the data and financial gain they offer. All businesses should have measures in place to keep them safe.