Social engineering is the weaponization of psychology to take advantage of human weaknesses and break through a person’s or an organization’s security. It is more than just plain manipulation because a social engineer’s goal is to identify the weaknesses and provide recommendations on how to remediate them.
Social engineering is a double-edged sword. On one side, it can be used to strengthen defenses through testing and training; on the other, it can be twisted by attackers with harmful intent. The best protection is awareness—knowing the tricks makes it easier to guard yourself and your organization.
This section covers what I understood and found most useful from the book Social Engineering, 2nd Edition by Christopher Hadnagy.
Catch Me If You Can is one of the best examples of social engineering because the main character, Frank Abagnale Jr., tricks people by using charm, confidence, and false identities. He poses as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer, gaining trust and access without hacking a single system. The film shows how human psychology, not technology, can be the weakest link in security.
Project Puchufy 