Social Engineering

The Art of Hacking Humans

By RecOsint | Dec 3, 2025

No Code Required. You can have the best firewall in the world. But if a hacker calls your employee, pretends to be IT Support, and asks for the password... The firewall cannot stop them.Humans are the weakest link.

The hacker creates a fake scenario to steal info. Scenario: "Hi, this is HR. We are updating payroll. Confirm your Social Security Number." Psychology: They use Authority so you are afraid to say no.

Pretexting (The Lie)

Baiting (The Trap) Hackers leave an infected USB drive in the company parking lot labeled "CEO Salary Bonus". The Action: An employee gets curious and plugs it into a work PC. The Result: The virus installs instantly. Curiosity killed the cat.

How to enter a secure building without an ID card? Method: The hacker carries a heavy box of donuts and waits at the door. The Hack: A kind employee holds the door open for them out of politeness. Breach: Physical security bypassed by kindness.

Tailgating  (The Shadow)

Technology cannot fix gullibility. Defense: Stop and Think. Verification is not rude; it is necessary. Rule: If it feels weird, hang up.

The Human Firewall