What is social engineering and which option is not a social engineering technique?
Option A is the correct answer. None of the choices listed are social engineering techniques. Social engineering refers to the manipulation and deception of individuals to gain unauthorized access to information or systems. It involves exploiting human psychology and tendencies to trick people into disclosing sensitive information or performing actions that can compromise security. Option A states that none of the choices are social engineering techniques, and this is the correct answer. Options B, C, and D (Tailgating, Shoulder Surfing, and Careless internet surfing) are indeed social engineering techniques.
Social Engineering Techniques
Understanding Social Engineering:
Social engineering is a manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain private information, access, or valuables. It involves tricking individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. Common social engineering techniques include phishing, pretexting, baiting, and tailgating.
The Options Explained:
Tailgating: Tailgating refers to unauthorized individuals gaining physical access to secure areas by closely following an authorized person. This technique relies on the trust people have in others and their tendency to hold doors open for those following behind.
Shoulder Surfing: Shoulder surfing involves an attacker observing someone's sensitive information, such as passwords or PINs, by looking over their shoulder. This technique is commonly used in public places such as ATM machines and can lead to identity theft.
Careless Internet Surfing: Careless internet surfing refers to individuals unknowingly visiting malicious websites or falling victim to online scams. It is the act of browsing the internet without regard for security precautions, which can lead to malware infections, data breaches, and other security vulnerabilities.
Therefore, the correct answer is (D) Careless internet surfing. This option is not a social engineering technique; instead, it refers to being negligent while browsing the internet, leading to security risks rather than actively manipulating individuals for information.