Define social engineering.

Social engineering is recognized as the practice of manipulating individuals into revealing confidential information, whether for malicious purposes or unauthorized access to systems. This may involve deceptive techniques, such as phishing, pretexting, or baiting, to exploit human psychology rather than technological vulnerabilities. The core idea is that individuals are often the weakest link in security, and attackers can take advantage of social factors to gain access to sensitive data.

The other options, while related to security, do not accurately define social engineering. Advanced technology use for security measures pertains to various cybersecurity tools without involving manipulation of individuals. Educating users about security policies is a proactive approach to building awareness and resilience against threats rather than an act of deception. Implementing strict access controls focuses on restricting access based on permissions and does not involve the psychological manipulation characteristic of social engineering tactics.