Which of the following is the act of obtaining a password or other confidential information from a person within an organization by using unauthorized means such as feigning an emergency situation?

Correct option is A

Social engineering is a form of cyber-attack that manipulates individuals into divulging confidential information by exploiting their trust. It often involves tricking people into revealing passwords, security codes, or other private data by creating a sense of urgency or by pretending to be someone in a position of authority. This attack is particularly dangerous because it targets human vulnerabilities rather than technical weaknesses.
Information Booster
1. Social Engineering Tactics: Common methods include phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating. Phishing is one of the most common forms, where attackers send fraudulent emails to deceive individuals into revealing personal information.
2. Psychological Manipulation: Social engineers use various psychological techniques, such as urgency, fear, or creating a false sense of security, to get individuals to act without thinking.
3. Prevention: Educating users about security protocols and the risks of unsolicited requests for sensitive information is crucial in defending against social engineering attacks.
Additional Knowledge
· Trojan Horse: A type of malicious software that misrepresents itself as a legitimate program to trick users into installing it, but it does not involve manipulating individuals for information.
· Password Crack: This refers to the process of attempting to guess or recover a password using various techniques such as brute force, dictionary attacks, or rainbow tables.
· Stepping-Stone Attack: This attack involves using multiple compromised systems as intermediaries to obscure the attacker's identity and location.