What is social engineering in the context of security?

Social engineering in the context of security refers to manipulative tactics that trick individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. This can involve various psychological methods to exploit human emotions, such as fear, trust, or urgency, leading the target to perform actions like revealing passwords, providing personal information, or granting unauthorized access to systems.

Understanding social engineering is crucial for security awareness because it underlines the importance of human factors in cybersecurity. While technical measures such as firewalls and encryption are essential, the success of these measures can be undermined if individuals are manipulated into bypassing them. Therefore, education and training to recognize social engineering attempts are critical components of a comprehensive security strategy.