Understand how attackers manipulate human psychology to bypass security and learn how to defend against manipulation tactics.
What is Social Engineering?
Social engineering is the art of manipulating people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. Unlike technical hacking, social engineering exploits human psychology, trust, and emotions.
**Why It's Dangerous:**
- Bypasses technical security controls
- Exploits natural human tendencies (trust, helpfulness, fear)
- Can be harder to detect than technical attacks
- Often used as the first step in larger cyberattacks
**Common Attack Vectors:**
- Phone calls (pretending to be IT, executives, vendors)
- In-person interactions (tailgating, impersonation)
- Email and messaging (phishing with social engineering elements)
- Physical media (baiting with USB drives, fake documents)
**Psychology Behind It:**
Attackers exploit fundamental human traits: authority (we tend to obey), urgency (pressure bypasses critical thinking), trust (we want to help), and curiosity (we want to know). Understanding these triggers helps you recognize and resist manipulation.
