What is Social Engineering attack?
A Social Engineering attack is a manipulation technique that exploits human psychology to deceive individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. Unlike technical hacking, which targets computer systems, social engineering focuses on tricking people through tactics like impersonation, phishing, or baiting.
In these attacks, the attacker often pretends to be a trusted entity (like a co-worker, tech support, or friend) to gain access to sensitive data, such as passwords or financial information. Common examples include phishing emails, pretexting (creating a fabricated scenario to extract information), and tailgating (gaining unauthorized access by following someone into a secure area).
Awareness and vigilance are crucial in defending against social engineering attacks, as they rely on human error rather than technical vulnerabilities.