Definition
Social engineering is a psychological manipulation tactic used to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that compromise security. Attackers exploit human trust, curiosity, or fear to bypass technical security controls. Understanding these techniques is crucial for recognizing and preventing unauthorized access and data breaches in any organization. For instance, a phishing email might impersonate a trusted source to solicit login credentials. Unlike technical exploits that target system vulnerabilities, social engineering targets the human element of security. This concept is fundamental to cybersecurity certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CySA+.