Which of the following best describes social engineering?

Social engineering is best described as using people skills to obtain proprietary information. This technique exploits human psychology rather than relying on technical hacking methods. It involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information, such as passwords or sensitive data, typically through tactics like deception, impersonation, or the creation of a false sense of trust.

This approach is particularly effective because it takes advantage of the human factor in security, where users may not be as vigilant against threats that appear to come from a friendly or trustworthy source. It contrasts with purely technical methods, which focus on exploiting software vulnerabilities or system weaknesses. Understanding social engineering is essential for recognizing and mitigating risks associated with human interactions in information security.