social engineering
noun
1
: management of human beings in accordance with their place and function in society : applied social science
2
: social methods (such as phishing) that are used to obtain personal or confidential information which can then be used illicitly
The previously noted trend of switching from social engineering to hacking methods in attacks on organizations strengthened …—
San Fernando Valley (California) Business Journal
San Fernando Valley (California) Business Journal
social engineer
noun
plural social engineers
Examples of social engineering in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While effective at leveraging social engineering, early versions were limited to visual deception.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Iranian hackers were able to use social engineering tricks against Republican and Democratic campaigns.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
The three hackers, all of whom have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly gained access to the accounts of campaign officials using social engineering and spear phishing, a tactic that attempts to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024
Pig butchering is a social engineering scam that combines elements of trust-building and fake investment opportunities.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
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Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Iranian hackers were able to use social engineering tricks against Republican and Democratic campaigns.
—Brian Bennett, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024
The three hackers, all of whom have ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, allegedly gained access to the accounts of campaign officials using social engineering and spear phishing, a tactic that attempts to trick victims into disclosing sensitive information.
—Emma Roth, The Verge, 27 Sep. 2024
Pig butchering is a social engineering scam that combines elements of trust-building and fake investment opportunities.
—Lars Daniel, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for social engineering
Dictionary Entries Near social engineering
Cite this Entry
“Social engineering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20engineering. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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