Definition of social engineering

The term "social engineering" was initially coined in the field of psychology in the 1950s, referring to the process of manipulating people's thoughts and attitudes to achieve a desired outcome. The term took on a different meaning in the 1980s when it was adopted by the computer security community. In this context, social engineering refers to the techniques used by cybercriminals to trick or deceive individuals into sharing sensitive information or providing access to secured systems. Social engineering attacks can range from simple phishing scams to sophisticated schemes involving impersonation or social engineering of an organization's employees or vendors. The success of social engineering attacks is largely dependent on human nature, as people are naturally inclined to trust others and often disregard security protocols in the face of perceived authority or urgency. Therefore, social engineering continues to be a major challenge for organizations in the digital age, requiring ongoing education and training of employees in best security practices.