What method do hackers utilize in social engineering?

The method that hackers utilize in social engineering primarily revolves around gathering information through impersonation. Social engineering tactics aim to manipulate individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.

Impersonation is a common strategy within this context, as it allows the hacker to appear as a trusted entity, such as a colleague or a service provider. By establishing a trustful relationship, hackers can extract sensitive information—such as passwords, personal identification details, or access codes—without the victim realizing they are being deceived.

This approach to gaining information is particularly effective because it exploits human psychology, leveraging trust and social dynamics rather than relying on technical means like malware or direct hacking methods. In contrast, other options such as infiltrating networks with malware, directly hacking accounts, or using firewalls do not align with the principles of social engineering, which focuses specifically on human interaction and manipulation rather than technical attack vectors.