Disclaimer : This was originally written as a blog post for a social engineering graduate class. It was developed to provide non-InfoSec and everyday folks with an explanation of what social engineering is. Hopefully, something that could be given to your parents or the grandmother that just got hired on at your company. There's a misconception that social engineering is only used by nation-state actors, thieves, and used car salespeople. What people miss is that social engineering is all around us. It's in the media that we consume, it's in the habits that we have, and the bonds we form with people. By demystifying social engineering, we can help people understand that this isn't some fringe concept that is only employed by the mischievous and maleficent, but something that is used by everyone. It's easier to guard yourself against the everyday spring rain shower than it is a nuclear holocaust. Scarcity Each of us can probably imagine a time that we fell sus