What is the main underlying tactic common to social engineering attacks?

The main underlying tactic common to social engineering attacks revolves around the manipulation of human psychology rather than technical skills or advanced tools. Social engineering exploits human behavior, relationships, and trust to achieve malicious objectives.

This tactic often involves understanding how individuals or groups perceive information and act upon it. Attackers leverage cognitive biases, emotions, and social norms to trick victims into divulging sensitive information or taking actions that compromise security.

While knowledge of security measures, advanced software tools, and technical skills can enable an attacker to be more effective, the essence of social engineering is the psychological manipulation of people, not the tools or technical abilities they possess. It's the principles of how individuals can be influenced and deceived that lie at the heart of social engineering tactics.