What is the basic technique of impersonation in social engineering?

The basic technique of impersonation in social engineering involves pretending to be someone else. This tactic capitalizes on human psychology, where individuals are more likely to trust someone who appears familiar or authoritative. By imitating a person or entity that the target may know or respect, the impersonator can manipulate the target into providing sensitive information or access.

For instance, an attacker might pose as a company executive or a tech support employee to instill trust and prompt the target to divulge credentials or other confidential details, thinking they're assisting a legitimate request. This approach is foundational in social engineering strategies, as it directly exploits the trust that people have in recognized figures or organizations.

The other options, while related to social engineering tactics, do not represent the primary technique of impersonation. Collecting personal information can support broader social engineering strategies, but it does not specifically describe the act of impersonation. Similarly, phishing emails and hacking into accounts are methods used to gain unauthorized access or information but do not focus on the essence of pretending to be someone else, which is the core principle behind impersonation.