Introduction

The first subunit will focus on the fundamental concepts of social engineering and explore the motivations driving such attacks. Our objectives are to understand the definition of social engineering, identify its primary motivations, and promote ethical awareness in handling this knowledge. By the end of this subunit, learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of social engineering motives and the ethical considerations involved.

This subunit is very relevant as it lays the foundation for understanding the tactics and strategies employed by cybercriminals to manipulate individuals and organizations. This understanding is essential for recognizing phishing attempts, identifying suspicious behaviours, and ultimately bolstering cybersecurity defences against evolving cyber threats.

The materials needed are:

• Case studies of social engineering attacks.
• Articles or research papers on social engineering.
• Ethical guidelines and principles on cybersecurity.