What does the term “social engineering” refer to in cybersecurity?

The term "social engineering" in cybersecurity refers to methods used to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information. This practice exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to confidential data. Techniques often involve impersonation, creating a sense of urgency, or building trust, thereby leading victims to willingly provide information such as passwords, account details, or other sensitive data.

Understanding social engineering is crucial in cybersecurity training, as it underscores the importance of user awareness and vigilance. Employees should be trained to recognize common social engineering tactics, such as phishing emails or unsolicited phone calls requesting sensitive information, to help protect the organization's data assets. This highlights that even the best security technologies can be circumvented if individuals fall prey to manipulation.

Other options refer to different aspects of cybersecurity. Encrypting data pertains to protecting data at rest or in transit, securing networks involves implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other technical measures, while analyzing network traffic is related to monitoring and managing data flow for potential threats. None of these directly relate to the manipulation of individuals, which is the core of social engineering.