Which of the following methods is NOT typically used by social engineers?

Social engineering primarily involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. The methods typically employed by social engineers revolve around psychological tactics rather than technical skills or exploits.

Creating trust is a fundamental tactic in social engineering. By establishing a rapport or a sense of familiarity, social engineers can lower the target's defenses and facilitate compliance with their requests. This often involves the use of empathy or creating a sense of urgency.

Impersonation is another common practice within this realm. Social engineers often pose as trusted figures, such as IT personnel or corporate executives, to deceive individuals into believing they are someone other than who they truly are. This technique exploits the trust people have in authority figures.

Building personal rapport is also a critical aspect of social engineering. Social engineers often engage in conversations that allow them to relate to their targets, thereby making the targets feel comfortable and more likely to share sensitive information.

In contrast, exploiting technical loopholes falls outside the typical toolbox of social engineers. This method relies on a deep understanding of technical systems and vulnerabilities, which is more aligned with hacking or technical intrusion rather than the psychological manipulation that defines social engineering. Thus, the focus of social engineering is on human interaction and the exploitation of trust rather than technical exploitation.