Social Engineering

24th December 2019 | Cybrary Social Engineering
Social engineering cyber manipulation infographic
Image Source

Social Engineering in the context of cyber security, is when one uses psychological manipulation to have people perform specific actions or to give out confidential information. This differs from the type of social engineering that is found within the social sciences because in the social sciences social engineering does not refer to the divulging of confidential information.

Social engineering within the cyber security industry is found when people are tricked into giving out their information. An example of this would be when a hacker finds a Facebook user and starts a conversation with them; leading to the user gaining the hackers trust and potentially giving out sensitive information, or clicking on a link that allows the hacker into their system.

Related Terms: Phishing, Spoofing Attacks

Source: Anderson, Ross J. (2008). Security engineering: a guide to building dependable distributed systems (2nd ed.). Indianapolis, IN

If you would like more information on this topic, watch this short video:

CyberHoot does have some other resources available for your use. Below are links to all of our resources, feel free to check them out whenever you like: 

Note: If you’d like to subscribe to our newsletter, visit any link above (besides infographics) and enter your email address on the right-hand side of the page, and click ‘Send Me Newsletters’.

Latest Blogs

Stay sharp with the latest security insights

Discover and share the latest cybersecurity trends, tips and best practices – alongside new threats to watch out for.

184 Million Passwords Leaked: Is Your Digital Doppelgänger Out There?

184 Million Passwords Leaked: Is Your Digital Doppelgänger Out There?

Spoiler alert: If you’re still using “password123” or “iloveyou” for your login… it’s time for an...

Read more
CyberHoot Newsletter – June 2025

CyberHoot Newsletter – June 2025

CyberHoot June Newsletter: Stay Informed, Stay Secure Welcome to the June edition of CyberHoot’s newsletter,...

Read more
Make Phishing Training Count with HootPhish

Make Phishing Training Count with HootPhish

Stop tricking employees. Start training them. Take Control of Your Security Awareness Training with a Platform...

Read more