Social engineering is a sophisticated attack methodology that exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. These attacks rely on deception, manipulation, and trust-building tactics to persuade individuals to bypass established security controls, disclose sensitive information, or perform actions that compromise organizational security.

Unlike purely technical exploits, social engineering attacks target the human element of security—often the most unpredictable and vulnerable component of any environment. Threat actors frequently conduct reconnaissance before initiating multi-stage campaigns designed to appear legitimate and credible.