Social engineering refers to the manipulation of individuals or groups through psychological tactics to deceive, influence, or exploit them for malicious purposes. It is a form of manipulation that exploits human psychology and social dynamics to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, resources, or systems.

Key aspects of social engineering include:

1. Psychological Manipulation: Social engineering exploits cognitive biases, emotions, and social norms to manipulate individuals into performing certain actions or divulging confidential information. This may involve techniques such as persuasion, deception, flattery, intimidation, or impersonation to gain the trust and cooperation of the target.
2. Phishing and Spoofing: Social engineering often involves the use of phishing emails, fake websites, or spoofed phone calls to trick individuals into providing sensitive information, such as passwords, usernames, credit card numbers, or personal data. These tactics typically impersonate legitimate entities or organizations to create a false sense of trust and urgency.
3. Pretexting: Pretexting is a social engineering technique that involves creating a fabricated scenario or pretext to elicit information or gain access to restricted areas or systems. This may include posing as a trusted authority figure, service provider, or employee to deceive individuals into providing access or sensitive information.
4. Tailgating and Impersonation: Social engineering may also involve physical access techniques, such as tailgating or impersonation, to gain unauthorized entry to secure facilities or systems. This may involve following an authorized individual into a restricted area without proper identification or posing as a legitimate employee or contractor to gain access.
5. Social Engineering Attacks: Social engineering attacks can take various forms, including phishing attacks, spear phishing, vishing (voice phishing), smishing (SMS phishing), and business email compromise (BEC). These attacks often target individuals or organizations with the goal of stealing sensitive information, compromising systems, or committing fraud.

Overall, social engineering exploits human vulnerabilities and social trust to manipulate individuals or groups for malicious purposes. It highlights the importance of awareness, vigilance, and security measures to protect against social engineering attacks and safeguard sensitive information and assets.