social engineering
The term "social engineering" is used in both cybersecurity and social sciences to describe different forms of manipulation, either of individuals or societal behaviors.
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Definition
C1Computer Security
(technical)Manipulating individuals into revealing confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.
Example
- The hacker used social engineering to trick the employee into revealing their password.
- Phishing emails are a common form of social engineering.
C1Political Science
(academic)Efforts to influence public attitudes and behaviors on a large scale to achieve desired societal outcomes.
Example
- The government's social engineering policies aimed to reduce smoking rates.
- Social engineering can be used to promote healthier lifestyles within a population.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "social engineering":