social engineering

[ soh-shuhl en-juh-neer-ing ]

/ ˈsoʊ ʃəl ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for social engineering on Thesaurus.com

noun

Political Science. the manipulation of social beliefs and behaviors by public or private entities through legislation, policy, and investment.

a technique that uses psychological manipulation, fraud, or dishonesty to force people to disclose private personal or corporate information, or to take a particular action:Hackers are using social engineering to perpetrate phishing scams.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of social engineering

First recorded in 1895–1900

OTHER WORDS FROM social engineering

so·cial en·gi·neer, noun

Words nearby social engineering

social drinker, social dumping, social dynamics, Social Education Centre, social-emotional learning, social engineering, social environment, social evil, social evolution, social exclusion, social fund

How to use social engineering in a sentence

Maybe there are engineering answers to reduce social engineering but still allow researchers access to investigate device compromise.
Hackers are finding ways to hide inside Apple’s walled garden|Patrick Howell ONeill|March 1, 2021|MIT Technology Review
So part of the challenge—it’s a social engineering exercise—is getting lawmakers and investors to invest in risk.
The Man Who Saw the Pandemic Coming - Issue 94: Evolving|Kevin Berger|December 30, 2020|Nautilus
Some straightforward examples are malware, spyware, social engineering scams, and false information.
The Google page experience: What you need to know and five steps to prepare for 2021|Gert Svaiko|December 1, 2020|Search Engine Watch
It’s tempting to dismiss it all as being more about social engineering of our lifestyles than about actual economic reforms.
Capitalism is in crisis. To save it, we need to rethink economic growth.|Katie McLean|October 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Twitter said it is still investigating the incident, which it believes occurred after “a coordinated social engineering attack” was waged on some of its employees in order to gain access to its internal administrator tools.
Twitter hack jolts companies into a social media security check|Lara O'Reilly|July 17, 2020|Digiday
One innovation in the game was the Social Engineering screen: Different technologies unlock different social engineering options.
Nerdiness from Noah: Alpha Centauri|Noah Kristula-Green|March 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
No less an expert than Newt Gingrich called it "right-wing social engineering".
Paul Begala: With Ryan, Romney Has the Plutocrat Ticket|Paul Begala|August 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He called the Medicare voucher plan “right-wing social engineering.”
Mitt Romney Smacks Newt Gingrich in Florida Brawl at NBC Debate|Howard Kurtz|January 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
His agenda includes ratcheting down American influence overseas, so he can focus on social engineering at home.
Obama and Merkel Play Friends for the Cameras|Russell A. Berman|June 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
It will only provide more fodder for the right wing, which will present it as a case of elitist social engineering.
Obama's Desperate Gay Pander|Lee Siegel|February 2, 2010|DAILY BEAST
They use social engineering hacks to try to get us to reveal ourselves so that they can bust us.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Household engineering is the great need for material welfare, and social engineering for moral and ethical well-being.
Euthenics, the science of controllable environment|Ellen H. Richards
The organization of sound economic groups is a problem in the field of social engineering.
The Next Step|Scott Nearing
There is, however, a special need for some social engineering which can initiate Boarding Homes for the Elderly.
The Family and it's Members|Anna Garlin Spencer
The changes that continue to affect the society are more the result of economic growth than of social engineering.
Area Handbook for Bulgaria|Eugene K. Keefe, Violeta D. Baluyut, William Giloane, Anne K. Long, James M. Moore, and Neda A. Walpole

British Dictionary definitions for social engineering

social engineering

noun

the manipulation of the social position and function of individuals in order to manage change in a society

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

social engineering

Origin of social engineering

OTHER WORDS FROM social engineering

Words nearby social engineering

Words related to social engineering

How to use social engineering in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for social engineering