What is meant by social engineering in cybersecurity?

Social engineering in cybersecurity refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals to obtain confidential or personal information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. This tactic often preys on human emotions, such as fear, trust, or curiosity, to convince individuals to disclose sensitive data like passwords, credit card numbers, or social security numbers.

The correct concept highlights the crucial role that human behavior plays in cybersecurity, indicating that even the most advanced security systems can be compromised if individuals are tricked into revealing information. Understanding social engineering is essential for developing effective training programs aimed at raising awareness and enhancing the ability of individuals to recognize and resist such manipulative tactics.

The other options do not accurately capture the essence of social engineering. They focus instead on technical aspects of cybersecurity, such as automating responses for technical support, monitoring networks for vulnerabilities, or building protective software, none of which involve the direct manipulation of individuals to gain unauthorized access to information.