PDS: Understanding social engineering: the attack that starts with “hello” with Miguel Solis

We tend to think of cyberattacks as purely technical, but in reality, social manipulation is one of the most used tactics in modern attacks. In this session, we will break down how social engineers use manipulation, urgency, and just enough research to trick people into giving up access or information. We’ll walk through real-world examples of phishing, pretexting, and impersonation techniques, many pulled straight from recent attacks on companies and individuals. You’ll leave with practical tools to recognize suspicious behavior, protect your personal and professional data, and help others around you do the same. Miguel Solis is a cybersecurity consultant and web application ethical hacker with over eight years of experience helping companies uncover and fix security vulnerabilities. His work focuses on both technical threats and human factors, especially the psychology behind social engineering attacks. Miguel regularly advises organizations on how to build stronger security cultures through education, awareness, and smart policies.