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Meaning of social engineering

Source language: EnglishDictionary language: English

social engineering

noun

Definitions

  1. Use of numerical data to inform social programs.

    Example: Using social engineering, the new cardinal has efficiently re-arranged the Church's outreach.

  2. Efforts to influence attitudes and social behaviors on a large scale, in order to produce desired characteristics in a target population.

  3. The practice of tricking a user into giving, or giving access to, sensitive information, thereby bypassing most or all protection.

    Example: After our hacking attempts failed, we tried social engineering, walking into the building and claiming we had to do some urgent work in the server room.