Penetration testing does not always involve using a computer and firing exploits. In this chapter, we will learn how to master the art of social engineering, a skill that every penetration tester should have. Social engineering can be complex, as you try to use psychological manipulation to break the minds of your targets.
In this chapter, you will benefit from knowing what social engineering is, the different types of social engineering, and what tools can be used to perform social engineering. You will gain skills by learning how to build a social engineering attack using tools within Kali Linux. By continuing to explore and solidifying your social engineering skills, you can build a social attack, which, if executed on the right targets, can lead to you achieving your goal by using minimal software exploits.
As you progress through this chapter...