In criminal literature, social engineering is described as a key method that enables a persona to use a variety of techniques to obtain sensitive information from security personnel. The following are the most common applications of social engineering: 1. **Building Trust**: The persona establishes a normal relationship or interaction to gain the security personnel's trust. As trust grows, the security personnel becomes more relaxed and more willing to share sensitive information. 2. **Disguise**: The persona pretends to be a persona, such as a maintenance worker, IT person, or delivery person, to gain the security personnel's trust and obtain sensitive information. 3. **Emotional Manipulation**: The persona uses emotional inducements, such as complaints, pleading, or intimidation, to pressure the security personnel to reveal sensitive information. 4. **Illusion of Authority**: The persona pretends to be an authority figure, such as a senior executive or law enforcement official, to order the security personnel to provide sensitive information. 5. **Creating an Emergency**: The persona creates an emergency, such as a medical emergency or system failure, to create a sense of urgency and pressure the security personnel to share sensitive information to "help" solve the problem. 6. **Phishing**: The persona sends fake emails, messages, or requests, disguised as legitimate sources, to trick the security personnel into revealing sensitive information. 7. **Tailgating**: A character follows an authorized person into a secure area or system, exploiting their access to gather sensitive information. 8. **Working with a mole**: A character works with a mole or unauthorized person inside the security staff to gain sensitive information. 9. **Using psychological tactics**: A character uses psychological manipulation, such as hypnosis or coercion, to pressure a security staff member into sharing sensitive information. 10. **Exploiting security holes**: A character identifies and exploits holes in a security system, such as a weak password or lack of two-factor authentication, to gain access to sensitive information. Characters in crime fiction may use these social engineering tactics to: * Steal confidential documents or data * Gain unauthorized access to a system or area * Obtain sensitive information, such as a security collection or plist * Frustrate security protocols * Recruit an internal informant It is important to note that social engineering is a complex and multifaceted subject, and it is portrayed in crime literature as a tactic to highlight the vulnerability of the human element in security measures.