Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking

The first book to reveal and dissect the technical aspect of many social engineering maneuvers

From elicitation, pretexting, influence and manipulation all aspects of social engineering are picked apart, discussed and explained by using real world examples, personal experience and the science behind them to unraveled the mystery in social engineering.

Kevin Mitnick—one of the most famous social engineers in the world—popularized the term “social engineering.” He explained that it is much easier to trick someone into revealing a password for a system than to exert the effort of hacking into the system. Mitnick claims that this social engineering tactic was the single-most effective method in his arsenal. This indispensable book examines a variety of maneuvers that are aimed at deceiving unsuspecting victims, while it also addresses ways to prevent social engineering threats.

• Examines social engineering, the science of influencing a target to perform a desired task or divulge information
• Arms you with invaluable information about the many methods of trickery that hackers use in order to gather information with the intent of executing identity theft, fraud, or gaining computer system access
• Reveals vital steps for preventing social engineering threats

Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking does its part to prepare you against nefarious hackers—now you can do your part by putting to good use the critical information within its pages.

From the Author: Defining Neuro-Linguistic Hacking (NLH)

Author Chris Hadnagy

NLH is a combination of the use of key parts of neuro-lingusitic programming, the functionality of microexpressions, body language, gestures and blend it all together to understand how to “hack” the human infrastructure. Let’s take a closer at each to see how it applies.

Neuro-Lingusitic Programming (NLP): NLP is a controversial approach to psychotherapy and organizational change based on "a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behavior and the subjective experiences underlying them" and "a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behavior"

Neuro: This points to our nervous system which we process our five senses:
• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic
• Smell
• Taste

Linguistic: This points to how we use language and other nonverbal communication systems through which our neural representations are coded, ordered and given meaning. This can include things like:
• Pictures
• Sounds
• Feelings
• Tastes
• Smells
• Words

Programming: This is our ability to discover and utilize the programs that we run in our neurological systems to achieve our specific and desired outcomes.

In short, NLP is how to use the language of the mind to consistently achieve, modify and alter our specific and desired outcomes (or that of a target).

Microexpressions are the involuntary muscular reactions to emotions we feel. As the brain processes emotions it causes nerves to constrict certain muscle groups in the face. Those reactions can last from 1/25th of a second to 1 second and reveal a person’s true emotions.

Much study has been done on microexpressions as well as what is being labeled as subtle microexpressions. A subtle microexpression is an important part of NLH training as a social engineer as many people will display subtle hints of these expressions and give you clues as to their feelings.

Christopher Hadnagy is the lead developer of www.social-engineer.org, the world's first social engineering framework. In more than 14 years of security and IT activity, he has partnered with the team at www.backtrack-linux.org and worked on a wide variety of security projects. He also serves as trainer and lead social engineer for Offensive Security's penetration testing team.