Which term best describes deception to obtain information by posing as someone you know?

• A. Shouldering
• B. Blagging
• C. Phishing Attack
• D. Social Engineering

Answer: (D)

Social engineering is about manipulating people into revealing confidential information by exploiting trust and social interactions. When someone pretends to be a person you know or a trusted contact to gain access to details, they’re using a pretext to persuade you, which is a hallmark of social engineering. While phishing is a specific method (tricking you via messages or emails) and blagging is another term for deception to obtain information, both fall under social engineering as broader techniques. Shouldering, by contrast, is simply looking over someone’s shoulder and doesn’t involve impersonation. So this scenario fits best with social engineering.