What is the definition of social engineering in cybersecurity?

Social engineering in cybersecurity refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals into performing actions or divulging confidential information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. This tactic exploits human emotions, such as trust or fear, to trick people into providing sensitive data, such as passwords or personal identification details. By understanding and influencing human behavior, attackers can bypass standard security measures that would typically guard against unauthorized access.

The focus of social engineering is not on technical vulnerabilities but rather on the human element within organizations. It is crucial to recognize these tactics so that proper training and awareness programs can be implemented to protect individuals from being exploited.

The other options relate to different aspects of cybersecurity practices, such as software security, analyzing data for improving security measures, and implementing protective technologies like firewalls. However, none of these options capture the essence of social engineering, which is primarily about manipulation and deception to gain access to sensitive information.