What does "social engineering" refer to in cybersecurity?

Social engineering in cybersecurity refers to the psychological manipulation of individuals into performing actions or divulging confidential information that could compromise security. This often involves tricking people into providing sensitive data, such as passwords or personal information, under false pretenses. Criminals utilize various techniques, including impersonation or pretexting, to gain the trust of their targets and effectively exploit human behavior rather than relying solely on technical vulnerabilities.

The focus on human factors distinguishes social engineering from other security measures that are more technology-oriented, such as developing software to combat malware, hardening systems against attacks, or analyzing network traffic. These alternatives address vulnerabilities in software or hardware rather than influencing human interactions and decision-making. In summary, option C accurately defines social engineering as it targets the human aspects of security.