The evolution of social engineering methods in the age of digitalization – from simple phishing to advanced manipulation.

Abstract

These days, despite increasingly advanced antivirus and firewall protection, the weakest link in security systems remains the human. This article examines how social engineering methods have evolved over recent years—from simple, often clumsy emails ( phishing ) to highly sophisticated manipulations using artificial intelligence. The paper focuses on the psychological mechanisms that keep us falling for scams, and describes new threats such as deepfakes and precisely targeted attacks on companies. The aim of the article is to demonstrate how social engineering has evolved from mass mailings toward highly personal and technologically sophisticated forms of attack. The summary concludes with conclusions about why technology alone won't save us and the importance of education and simple online vigilance today.