What is social engineering in the context of cybersecurity?

Social engineering in the context of cybersecurity refers to the techniques and tactics used by malicious actors to exploit human psychology and behavior to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information. This can include sensitive data such as passwords, personal information, or access credentials. Instead of relying solely on technical hacking methods, social engineers rely on their ability to interact with people, often employing deceitful strategies such as impersonation, phishing, or pretexting.

The effectiveness of social engineering stems from its focus on human factors rather than technical vulnerabilities. It recognizes that even the most secure systems can be compromised if an attacker can successfully manipulate a person to reveal confidential information. Understanding this concept is vital for implementing effective security awareness training and developing robust defenses against such tactics in organizations.