In cybersecurity, what does "social engineering" involve?

Social engineering specifically refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals to persuade them to divulge confidential information, such as passwords or personal identification details. It leverages the human tendency to trust others and can take various forms, including phishing emails, pretexting, or baiting, where attackers create scenarios or impersonate trusted figures to gain sensitive information.

This method relies heavily on the exploitation of social interactions rather than technical vulnerabilities. Consequently, while advanced technology, encryption methods, and firewalls are essential components of cybersecurity, they do not directly address the human element exploited in social engineering attacks. Instead, understanding social engineering is crucial for implementing adequate security awareness and training programs to empower individuals against such manipulative tactics.