Which approach involves the attacker posing as an authority figure and the target seeking guidance before divulging information?

Which approach involves the attacker posing as an authority figure and the target seeking guidance before divulging information?

• A. Reverse Social Engineering
• B. Piggybacking
• C. Honey Trap
• D. Baiting

Answer: (A)

Reverse social engineering involves an attacker pretending to be a trusted authority and creating a situation that makes the target seek guidance before divulging information. The attacker engineers credibility and a believable problem, so the victim reaches out for help, often sharing passwords, credentials, or sensitive data in the process. The critical aspect is that the target initiates contact with the supposed expert, which makes the deception feel legitimate and increases the chances of disclosure. Other methods operate differently: piggybacking is about physically following someone to gain access, honey trap relies on a lure such as romance to extract information, and baiting uses a tempting distraction or device to coax the victim into taking an unsafe action.

Reverse social engineering involves an attacker pretending to be a trusted authority and creating a situation that makes the target seek guidance before divulging information. The attacker engineers credibility and a believable problem, so the victim reaches out for help, often sharing passwords, credentials, or sensitive data in the process. The critical aspect is that the target initiates contact with the supposed expert, which makes the deception feel legitimate and increases the chances of disclosure.

Other methods operate differently: piggybacking is about physically following someone to gain access, honey trap relies on a lure such as romance to extract information, and baiting uses a tempting distraction or device to coax the victim into taking an unsafe action.