Objective
The Art of Deception is a 2002 non-fiction #book by Kevin Mitnick and William L. Simon that explores the methodology of social engineering. Drawing on Mitnick's history as a hacker, it illustrates how individuals can subvert security protocols by exploiting human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. The text utilizes fictional but plausible scenarios—such as posing as a snowed-in employee to obtain network passwords or using a heavy box to trick others into holding secure doors—to demonstrate how social engineers bypass corporate and personal defenses. It concludes with specific security frameworks and business plans designed to mitigate these human-centric risks.