What are social engineering tactics?

Social engineering tactics are defined as techniques used to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential or personal information that may be used for fraudulent purposes. This approach relies on psychological manipulation rather than technical hacking techniques to achieve its goals. By exploiting human behavior and instincts, such as trust, fear, or curiosity, attackers can deceive victims into breaking standard security practices.

In the realm of cybersecurity, understanding social engineering tactics is crucial because they often serve as a gateway for more serious security breaches. Recognizing these tactics can help individuals and organizations implement measures to protect sensitive information and guard against potential threats.