What is social engineering in the context of security?

Social engineering in the context of security refers to manipulative tactics used to exploit human psychology in order to gain confidential information or access to systems. This often involves situations where individuals may unknowingly compromise security by failing to verify a person's identity.

For instance, an attacker might pose as a trusted figure, such as a colleague or IT personnel, and request sensitive information from an unsuspecting user. Since individuals may not always be vigilant about verifying the identity of the person they are communicating with, this creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by social engineers.

While using technology to protect data, deterring hackers, and training personnel to prevent breaches are all crucial aspects of a comprehensive security strategy, they do not specifically highlight the human-focused elements of social engineering that underscore the danger posed by this type of manipulation. Social engineering harnesses trust and human behavior, making verification of identity central to mitigating its risks.