Social engineering is a deceptive and manipulative technique used by cyber attackers to exploit human psychology and trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or performing actions that may compromise security. This form of attack relies on exploiting trust, authority, or human behavior rather than relying on technical vulnerabilities. Common social engineering tactics include phishing emails, where attackers masquerade as trustworthy entities to trick recipients into providing confidential information, and pretexting, where attackers create a fabricated scenario to elicit sensitive details. The success of social engineering often hinges on manipulating emotions, creating a sense of urgency, or exploiting human tendencies like curiosity or the desire to help. Mitigating social engineering threats requires user education, awareness training, and the implementation of robust security policies to minimize the risk of falling victim to these manipulative tactics.