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security Beginner 21 lessons

Social Engineering Defense

Secure the human factor. Learn the psychology of persuasion, run phishing simulations, and build security awareness programs.

Humans are often the weakest link in security. This course explores the psychology behind Social Engineering attacks like Phishing, Vishing (voice), and Smishing (SMS). You will learn to recognize manipulation tactics (urgency, authority, scarcity) and how to defend against them. We cover running authorized phishing simulation campaigns to train employees, physical security assessments (tailgating, badge cloning), and building a culture of security awareness that empowers staff rather than blaming them.

✅ 100% Free & Lifetime Access
⏱️ 5-Minute Lessons (Bite-sized learning)
🚀 21-Lesson Path (Independent modules)
📱 Mobile Friendly (Learn anywhere)
Human Sec
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Complete Course Syllabus

  • 1
    Psychology of Attacks
    Cialdini's principles of persuasion in hacking.
  • 2
    Phishing & Pretexting
    Crafting and detecting deceptive emails and scenarios.
  • 3
    Physical Security
    Tailgating, lock bypassing, and badge cloning concepts.
  • 4
    Vishing & Smishing
    Attacks via phone and text message channels.
  • 5
    Building Defense
    Creating training programs that change behavior.

Estimated completion time: 21 lessons • Self-paced learning • Lifetime access

Career Outlook

Estimated Salary
$80k - $110k

Career Paths

Security Awareness Lead $90k-$130k
Social Engineer (Red Team) $100k-$150k
Security Analyst $80k-$115k

What You Will Learn

Identify common social engineering tactics and psychological triggers
Execute authorized phishing simulation campaigns for training
Assess physical security risks like tailgating and dumpster diving
Develop effective security awareness training materials
Defend against pretexting and impersonation attacks

Skills You Will Gain

Psychology of Persuasion Phishing Simulation Physical Security Security Awareness OSINT

Who Is This For

Security Awareness Mgrs
HR/Training
Security Analysts

Prerequisites

None
Interest in Psychology

Social Engineering Defense FAQs

Is this hacking?

It's 'Human Hacking', used to test and train defense.

Psychology?

Yes, understanding bias and influence is key.

Technical?

Less code, more about people and processes.

Job market?

Growing role as companies focus on human risk.

Need more info?
All Reork courses are 100% free, self-paced, and fully accessible on mobile devices. No prior experience is required. Read our full Platform FAQ.

Tech Stack & Tools

GoPhish
OSINT Framework
Email Headers
SET (Toolkit)

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