Friday, December 31, 2010
John Stroup
The Gisborner Herald (New Zealand)
WHAT is social engineering? Why is it important to know about it? Is it good, or is it bad?
Let’s start with a definition: (Sociology) the manipulation of the social position and function of individuals in order to manage change in a society.
Another context is computer security, usually involving trickery or deception in order to gain access or information. Although this context is not significant to the point being made, please note deception is the tool being used.
Social engineering is all about change. It is a way to change people’s world view, attitudes, behaviour, opinions, actions and beliefs. A social conditioning or behaviour modification would be good synonyms.
How is this done? The most brutal methods have been employed by authoritative regimes such as the former Soviet Union. There were re-education programmes, dislocation of populations, imprisonment and execution of dissidents. Pol Pot in Cambodia relocated and executed millions of people to achieve his political objectives.
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