What is a common method used in social engineering?

What is a common method used in social engineering?

• A. Direct programming
• B. Analysis of network traffic
• C. Deceiving individuals into sharing confidential information
• D. Using firewalls to block access

Answer: (C)

A common method used in social engineering is deceiving individuals into sharing confidential information. Social engineering relies heavily on manipulating human psychology rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. The goal is to trick individuals into divulging sensitive data, such as passwords, account numbers, or personal details, often by posing as a trustworthy source. This technique can take many forms, including phishing emails that appear to come from legitimate organizations, phone calls where the attacker impersonates IT support, or even in-person interactions where the attacker creates a false sense of urgency. The effectiveness of these tactics lies in their ability to exploit trust and emotional responses in humans, making it a critical area of focus in cybersecurity awareness training. In contrast, the other options reflect more technical approaches or security measures rather than methods of manipulation used to harvest information from unsuspecting targets. For instance, direct programming, analysis of network traffic, and using firewalls focus on the technical aspects of information security rather than the human element that social engineering exploits.

A common method used in social engineering is deceiving individuals into sharing confidential information. Social engineering relies heavily on manipulating human psychology rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. The goal is to trick individuals into divulging sensitive data, such as passwords, account numbers, or personal details, often by posing as a trustworthy source.

This technique can take many forms, including phishing emails that appear to come from legitimate organizations, phone calls where the attacker impersonates IT support, or even in-person interactions where the attacker creates a false sense of urgency. The effectiveness of these tactics lies in their ability to exploit trust and emotional responses in humans, making it a critical area of focus in cybersecurity awareness training.

In contrast, the other options reflect more technical approaches or security measures rather than methods of manipulation used to harvest information from unsuspecting targets. For instance, direct programming, analysis of network traffic, and using firewalls focus on the technical aspects of information security rather than the human element that social engineering exploits.