What is the definition of social engineering in the context of security?

In the context of security, social engineering refers to manipulative techniques that exploit human psychology to trick individuals into revealing confidential information. This definition captures the essence of how social engineering operates; the focus is on human interaction rather than technical vulnerabilities.

Social engineers leverage trust, urgency, or fear to persuade individuals to disclose sensitive data, such as passwords or personal identification information. By understanding human behavior and social dynamics, these attackers can effectively bypass technical security measures and directly manipulate individuals.

This understanding is critical in security training, as it emphasizes the importance of awareness and caution in interactions that may seem harmless at first. Recognizing the tactics employed in social engineering can lead to more robust defenses against unauthorized access to information, as individuals are better prepared to identify and resist such deceptive approaches.