What is the main technique used in social engineering?

The main technique used in social engineering involves tricking individuals into revealing information. Social engineering relies on manipulating people rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities in systems. The key aspect of this technique is psychological manipulation, where attackers may use deception, impersonation, or emotional appeals to persuade victims to disclose sensitive information such as passwords, personal identification details, or financial information.

Successful social engineering attacks often hinge on building trust or exploiting fear and curiosity, making victims more susceptible to providing the needed information without realizing the potential consequences. This method does not require direct hacking skills but instead focuses on understanding human behavior and the social interactions that can lead to information breaches.

While other options involve hacking or malware, they point to different methods of cyber attacks that focus on exploiting technical weaknesses rather than the human factor, which is central to social engineering.