What kind of information is typically targeted in social engineering attacks?

In social engineering attacks, the primary focus is often on obtaining confidential personal information. This could include a range of sensitive data such as usernames, passwords, social security numbers, and other identifying details that can be used for malicious purposes. Attackers exploit human psychology, manipulating individuals into providing this kind of information under false pretenses, such as impersonating a trusted source or creating a sense of urgency.

While financial records and transaction details can certainly be targets for different types of attacks, they typically require access to personal information to be effectively exploited. Network policies and configurations, along with software vulnerabilities, are usually more the focus of technical attacks rather than social engineering. The hallmark of social engineering is its reliance on human trust and interaction rather than technical exploits, making the acquisition of confidential personal information a primary goal in those scenarios.