Social engineering manipulates individuals in cybersecurity by exploiting human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Attackers often use deceptive tactics to trick people into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details. This manipulation can take various forms, including phishing emails, pretexting, or baiting, which create a sense of urgency or familiarity. By understanding and anticipating human behavior, cybercriminals can effectively circumvent technical security measures, making user awareness and training essential components of comprehensive cyber defense strategies.