What is a common technique used in social engineering to obtain information?

Impersonation of an authority figure is a prevalent technique employed in social engineering because it takes advantage of a person's trust in authority and hierarchy. This method is effective because individuals are often conditioned to comply with requests from someone whom they perceive to have power or influence, such as a supervisor, IT administrator, or law enforcement official. The imposter may use this perceived authority to gather sensitive information, gain access to secure areas, or persuade victims to undertake actions that compromise their security.

Social engineering relies heavily on psychological manipulation rather than technical vulnerabilities. While malware and automation might play roles in broader cybersecurity contexts, they do not centrally focus on human interaction as a means of gaining information. Additionally, manipulating firewall settings pertains to network security practices rather than direct human interaction or influence. Thus, impersonation leverages human psychology, making it particularly effective in social engineering attacks.