
Social engineering in IT security
tools, tactics, and techniques
"Cutting-edge social engineering testing techniquesConduct ethical social engineering tests to identify an organization's susceptibility to attack. Written by a global expert on the topic, Social Engineering in IT Security discusses the roots and rise of social engineering and presents a proven methodology for planning a test, performing reconnaissance, developing scenarios, implementing the test, and accurately reporting the results. Specific measures you can take to defend against weaknesses a social engineer may exploit are discussed in detail. This practical guide also addresses the impact of new and emerging technologies on future trends in social engineering. Explore the evolution of social engineering, from the classic con artist to the modern social engineer Understand the legal and ethical aspects of performing a social engineering test Find out why social engineering works from a victim's point of view Plan a social engineering test--perform a threat assessment, scope the test, set goals, implement project planning, and define the rules of engagement Gather information through research and reconnaissance Create a credible social engineering scenario Execute both on-site and remote social engineering tests Write an effective social engineering report Learn about various tools, including software, hardware, and on-site tools Defend your organization against social engineering attacks "-- "This book presents a methodology that can be used to perform an ethical social engineer test. It also covers the background of social engineering, the legal and ethical issues involved, why social engineering works, hardware and software tools that can be used for social engineering, and finally a discussion on the future of social engineering. It provides an introduction to social engineering and discusses the ethical and legal aspects of performing a social engineering test. It also discusses how to plan a social engineering test, including performing a threat assessment, scoping the test and setting goals, project planning and defining the rules of engagement.It talks about creating a believable scenario for the test and executing the test. It also covers writing a social engineering report and ends with a look at some of the new technology and its implications for social engineering"--
Beyond its central premise, the book can be read through the connected lenses of Nonfiction. Those themes offer useful points of attention as the characters, ideas, or world develop, especially where the book complicates the expectations of its primary category.
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What the reading experience may hold
A fuller profile for choosing with more confidence—not just another copy of the preview.
Nonfiction
Use these as starting points rather than limits; the most memorable books often stretch beyond their catalog labels.
Catalog signals suggest warfare and conflict. These notes may not be complete; consult a publisher or reader-supplied guide when detailed warnings matter.
These notes are inferred from available catalog information and may not be complete. Check a publisher or reader-supplied guide if you need comprehensive warnings.
Dark tone · Steady pace
A comfortable full-length choice for steady daily reading.
A good fit if…
Readers who want a thoughtful experience and enjoy noticing the connections beneath a book’s surface story.
This book's DNA
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This signal is descriptive, not a rating. It helps compare the kind of reading experience this edition may offer.
Spoiler-Free Emotional Arc
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A quick reading snapshot
Edition facts and catalog signals to help you decide whether this book fits what you want to read next.
- ISBN-13
- 978-0-0718-1846-9
- Language
- English
- Edition record
- OL27166592M
A more thoughtful way into this book
This guide uses the edition details and category signals above to help you choose deliberately. It does not replace the author's work or a full review.
A comfortable full-length choice for steady daily reading.
Begin with its place in Nonfiction, then notice where the book resists that label.
Read for connection, not completion.
Mark one passage that sharpens the book's central concern and one that complicates it. That tension often reveals more than a quick summary.
Three questions to carry with you
- Whose perspective organizes the story, and whose perspective remains outside it?
- Which sources or lived experiences carry the author’s central argument?
- How does the book change the way you understand its larger subject?
Editorial framework by Wesley Bryan, BookenDeX Founder and Editor.







