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Serhii Nesterenko

I don't know how exactly this course will change your life. Because it can do it  in many ways, depending on who you are and what you do.

That's why before jumping into it you'd better  read the following details to see your benefits.

Read more

I don't know how exactly this course will change your life. Because it can do it  in many ways, depending on who you are and what you do.

That's why before jumping into it you'd better  read the following details to see your benefits.

Social Engineering nowadays is considered a kind of communicational black magic that forces people to execute any command of a Social Engineer. And when we say Social Engineering, what it comes to mind first is cybercriminals. Yes, social engineering is a part of their dark arsenal but not limited by it. For example, law enforcement uses Social Engineering to catch the bad guys too. In reality, Social Engineering is an essential part of many walks of life, including politics, intelligence and law enforcement, sales and marketing and even personal relationship.

In short, social engineering is hidden influence.

If you work in the security sector, be it cybersecurity, business intelligence, law enforcement, private investigations, etc., the benefits are obvious. Your professional skills will skyrocket, so it pushes your career and gives you a bunch of advantages over your competitors. And reward you with that amazing feeling of satisfaction that comes only when you know that your job performance is outstanding.

But what if you’re not a kind of a security specialist? Fortunately, you can gain even more. Would not it be dreamy if you’ll be able to detect at a glance when people try to conceal something important from you? What about knowing what your competitors are up to? What about easy spotting scammers, criminals and other bad guys hunting for you? What about your friends and loved ones who fear owning up to something? And would you like to know how others covertly elicit your secrets from you —and finally stop this dangerous process?

You’ll be able to do everything from the list after taking this course. In fact, you’ll be able to do much, much more.

In this course, I’ll also teach you a special part of social engineering – unlocking people's secrets. Making people voluntary share their secrets, to be precise. And this is the only way to learn how to keep your secrets safe.

This course is unique. Because unlike many courses on Social Engineering existing on the market, it’s not about technical tools and software. It’s about the essence of Social Engineering: people’s psychology. It’s not about the vulnerabilities of a computer. It’s about vulnerabilities of the human brain how it can be attacked and how to protect it.

This course is unique for many other reasons. Firstly, it’s based on my 20 years in psychological security and 12 years in cybersecurity areas experience. In this way, I was privileged to work with brilliant intelligence and law enforcement pros. I’ve learned from them plenty of exclusive useful techniques and tricks that help me in work and life. I share some of these techniques in this course.

More of that, the course is also based on tens of authoritative psychology books and science research. So you’ll not only learn the techniques but deeply understand the patterns behind them and why they work. It gives you a fantastic possibility to create your own techniques precisely suitable for your special circumstances. After learning these principles, spotting scam or phishing of different kinds will become a walk in the park for you let alone revealing secrets

In the first section, you'll learn what is Social Engineering and why it's so effective. You'll discover the main principle that makes Social Engineering almost unbeatable for most people. Then, in Section 2, we'll deep into tactical Social Engineering. You'll find out about various natural vulnerabilities of the human brain and how they can be exploited in seconds.

You'll discover why so many people, including most intellectual ones, fall prey to phishing attacks and give away their bank credentials or infect their computers with their own hands. You'll know sophisticated techniques used by cybercriminals to force their victims to give away their important secrets like passwords and private data. You'll learn how your basic instincts and emotions can be used to play against you and how easily they are triggered.

In Section 3 you'll learn the magic of the effective HUMINT elicitation techniques used by law intelligence agencies, law enforcement, secret agents and other pros of such kind. You'll learn to become a person to whom people want to confide their secrets. In this way, you'll know how to gain trust instantly, grab attention, set emotional bonds and become likable for everyone you want (no exaggeration here. ). Then you'll learn some extremely effective time-proven techniques that make people share with you even the darkest secrets. More of that, those people will be obliged to you for providing them with this possibility.

Finally, in Section 4 we'll see how all the techniques we've learned work in the wild. We'll consider three different Social Engineering scenarios. You'll see how an ethical hacker, an intelligence officer, and a police officer can use these techniques to establish their mission of obtaining secrets.

And of course, in the final video, you'll find the answer on how to protect yourself from even the most sophisticated Social Engineering attacks and keep your secrets safe. You'll understand why untrained people can't fight back against a social engineering attack and how to train yourself to never fall prey to a Social Engineer.

And now...imagine yourself, possessing all these skills. Imagine how you apply them and get fantastic results. Imagine yourself as a person who can reveal any secret and... let’s kick off.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Social engineering techniques and tricks
  • Humint (human intelligence ) techniques
  • Spotting scammers, spies and other dangerous persons
  • Clandestine elicitation techniques
  • Unlocking people's secrets covertly
  • Detecting sophisticated social engineering and phishing attacks at a glance
  • How the human brain can be hacked and how to protect it.
  • How to protect your assets and even your brain from human hacking

Syllabus

Introduction
About the author
Section 1. Dissecting the Danger
1. Why Social Engineering is so Hard to Resist
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers techniques to enhance professional skills in security-related fields, providing a competitive edge and improving job performance, which may lead to career advancement
Teaches how to detect when people are concealing information, spot scammers, and understand how personal information is covertly elicited, which may help learners protect themselves
Explores HUMINT elicitation techniques used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, which may be directly applicable to their work in obtaining information
Based on psychological security experience and authoritative psychology books, which may give learners a deeper understanding of the patterns behind social engineering techniques
Focuses on the psychology behind social engineering rather than technical tools and software, which may provide a foundational understanding of the subject
Includes a section on how to protect yourself from social engineering attacks and keep your secrets safe, which may be valuable for personal security

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Reviews summary

Practical social engineering & humint insights

According to learners, this course offers practical techniques and valuable insights into the psychology driving social engineering and HUMINT. Students widely appreciate the instructor's deep experience in psychological security and cybersecurity, finding the content eye-opening and directly applicable to both professional contexts and personal life for spotting manipulation and staying safe. While it serves as a strong introduction for many, some with prior experience found certain sections less detailed than expected. A notable strength highlighted is its focus on human vulnerabilities over technical tools. Though some reviews mention production quality could be improved, the core knowledge provided is highly regarded.
Great for beginners, but maybe too basic for experts.
"This course is a great starting point for anyone new to social engineering."
"While good for beginners, I found some parts too basic given my background."
"Solid introduction to the concepts, but advanced learners might want more depth."
"Perfect for understanding the fundamentals and psychological principles."
Emphasizes human behavior, not just technical aspects.
"Unlike other courses, this one focuses on the human psychology side, which is key."
"It's about human vulnerabilities, not just computer hacks, which was refreshing."
"Deep dive into why people fall for social engineering attacks based on psychology."
"Understanding the human brain's vulnerabilities was eye-opening."
Instructor's extensive experience enhances the course content.
"The instructor's 20 years experience really shines through; his examples are invaluable."
"His background in intelligence and security provides unique and credible insights."
"Learned a lot from the instructor's real-world perspective on social engineering."
"The instructor is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject matter."
Course provides useful techniques for real-world application.
"I learned practical techniques that I could use right away to understand people better."
"Provides actionable techniques for navigating social interactions and detecting deception."
"The insights into human behavior were immediately applicable to both work and personal situations."
"I gained practical tools to recognize and defend against social engineering attacks."
Some reviews noted issues with audio or video quality.
"Audio quality could be better in some lectures; it was sometimes distracting."
"Noticed some video flickering issues during the course."
"Wish the production value was higher, but the content makes up for it."
"The technical quality wasn't perfect, but the information was good."

Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for The Dark Art of Social Engineering and HUMINT. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete The Dark Art of Social Engineering and HUMINT will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Counterintelligence Agent
A counterintelligence agent works to protect an organization or nation from espionage and sabotage. A course on social engineering and HUMINT is directly relevant to the responsibilities of a counterintelligence agent. This course covers elicitation techniques, methods for spotting spies, and strategies for protecting information, which are all essential skills for a counterintelligence agent. Understanding how the human brain can be hacked, as taught in this course, helps a counterintelligence agent anticipate and counter the tactics used by adversaries. The counterintelligence agent benefits from the course's sections on protecting assets and detecting sophisticated social engineering attacks.
Intelligence Analyst
An intelligence analyst gathers and analyzes information to provide actionable insights. The course on social engineering and HUMINT directly supports the role of an intelligence analyst. The course covers elicitation techniques used by intelligence agencies, equipping the analyst with tools to gather information effectively. This approach to gaining trust, grabbing attention, and building emotional bonds is directly applicable to intelligence gathering. Moreover, understanding how people can be manipulated, as covered in this course, helps the intelligence analyst assess the reliability of sources and detect deception. An intelligence analyst will benefit from the course sections on spotting dangerous people and understanding the psychology behind influence.
Law Enforcement Officer
A law enforcement officer enforces laws, investigates crimes, and protects the public. The course on social engineering and HUMINT is directly relevant to the work of a law enforcement officer. The course covers techniques for gaining trust, eliciting information, and detecting deception, all of which are essential skills for interviewing suspects and witnesses. Learning how to spot scammers, spies, and other dangerous persons, as taught in this course, may assist the law enforcement officer in identifying potential threats and preventing crimes. Understanding how the human brain can be hacked, as covered in this course, can help the law enforcement officer understand why people fall victim to scams and make informed decisions.
Private Investigator
A private investigator gathers information for clients on personal, financial, and legal matters. This course on social engineering and HUMINT is highly valuable for a private investigator. The course covers techniques for unlocking people's secrets covertly, gaining trust, and eliciting information, all of which are essential skills for conducting investigations. Learning how to spot scammers, spies, and other dangerous persons, as taught in this course, helps the private investigator identify potential threats and gather evidence effectively. The private investigator may find the sections on Humint particularly helpful in their career.
Security Consultant
A security consultant helps organizations protect their assets by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing security measures. This course is valuable for a security consultant because it covers social engineering techniques, a significant threat to organizational security. Understanding how social engineers operate, as taught in this course's sections on tactical social engineering and elicitation techniques, helps a security consultant develop effective countermeasures and educate employees about potential risks. The course also provides insight into how the human brain can be hacked, strengthening a security consultant's ability to create robust security protocols.
Corporate Security Manager
A corporate security manager is responsible for protecting a company's physical and digital assets. The course on social engineering and HUMINT is highly relevant to the responsibilities of a corporate security manager. Understanding social engineering techniques, as covered in this course, is essential for protecting against insider threats and preventing data breaches. The course may provide insights into how employees can be manipulated into divulging sensitive information or granting unauthorized access. Learning how to protect assets and detect sophisticated social engineering attacks, as taught in this course, helps the corporate security manager develop and implement effective security protocols.
Penetration Tester
A penetration tester, also known as an ethical hacker, assesses the security of computer systems by simulating attacks to identify vulnerabilities. This course about social engineering and HUMINT can be very helpful for a penetration tester. Social engineering is a common tactic used by malicious actors to gain access to systems, so understanding these techniques is crucial for a penetration tester. The course teaches various social engineering techniques and tricks, like eliciting information, which the penetration tester can then use to test an organization's defenses. Learning how the human brain can be hacked, as covered in this course, enables a penetration tester to better simulate real-world attacks and recommend appropriate security measures.
Cybersecurity Analyst
A cybersecurity analyst monitors and protects computer systems and networks from cyber threats. A course that delves into the 'dark art' of social engineering and human intelligence is highly relevant. This course, by explaining social engineering techniques used by cybercriminals, assists the cybersecurity analyst in anticipating and mitigating potential attacks. Learning about phishing attacks, covered in the course, is particularly relevant, enhancing a cybersecurity analyst's ability to detect and prevent such threats. Furthermore, understanding HUMINT principles, as taught in this course, may help a cybersecurity analyst understand the motivation and methods of attackers.
Diplomat
A diplomat represents their country's interests in international relations, engaging in negotiations and building relationships with foreign governments and organizations. This course on social engineering and HUMINT is applicable to a diplomat due to its focus on influence and communication. Understanding how to gain trust, build rapport, and elicit information, as covered in this course, is crucial for a diplomat to effectively negotiate and represent their country's interests. The course also teaches techniques for detecting deception and understanding the motivations of others, which helps the diplomat assess the trustworthiness of foreign counterparts. The course's lessons on creating emotional bonds and using persuasive language may be particularly beneficial.
Negotiator
A negotiator facilitates agreements between two or more parties, often in high-stakes situations. A course on social engineering and HUMINT provides valuable skills for a negotiator. Understanding how to gain trust, build rapport, and influence others, as covered in this course, is crucial for a negotiator to reach favorable outcomes. The course also teaches techniques for detecting deception and understanding the motivations of others, which helps the negotiator assess the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing party. The negotiator may find the course's lessons on creating emotional bonds and using persuasive language particularly beneficial.
Fraud Investigator
A fraud investigator investigates allegations of fraud, using various techniques to uncover evidence and build a case. This course may prove useful for a fraud investigator as it provides insights into the psychology and methods used by fraudsters. The course covers techniques for unlocking people's secrets covertly, which can be directly applied to interviewing witnesses and suspects. Additionally, learning to detect sophisticated social engineering and phishing attacks, as covered in this course, helps the fraud investigator identify fraudulent schemes and understand how victims are manipulated. Understanding the vulnerabilities of the human brain, as taught in this course, enables a fraud investigator to anticipate the tactics employed by perpetrators.
Political Strategist
A political strategist develops and executes strategies to achieve political goals, such as winning elections or influencing policy. This course on social engineering and HUMINT, which is a form of hidden influence, can provide valuable insights for a political strategist. Understanding how to influence people's opinions, build trust, and create emotional bonds, as covered in this course, is crucial for a political strategist to connect with voters and shape public discourse. The course's sections on spotting dangerous people and understanding the psychology behind influence also help the political strategist anticipate and counter the tactics of opponents.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. A course on social engineering and HUMINT may be useful for a market research analyst by providing insights into consumer behavior and decision-making processes. Learning about the vulnerabilities of the human brain, as covered in this course, can help the market research analyst understand how advertising and marketing campaigns influence consumers. Moreover, understanding how to gain trust and build relationships, which this course examines, may improve the market research analyst's ability to conduct effective interviews and focus groups. Market Research Analysts may find the course useful in developing psychological profiles of consumers.
Human Resources Manager
A human resources manager oversees employee relations, recruitment, and training within an organization. While seemingly unrelated, this course may be beneficial for a human resources manager. Understanding social engineering tactics and how individuals can be influenced, can help the human resources manager to better understand employee behavior and dynamics within the workplace. Detecting when people try to conceal information as covered in this course, could be valuable in resolving conflicts, conducting investigations, and assessing the honesty of potential hires. The human resources manager may find value in the course's lessons on building trust and fostering positive relationships.
Social Worker
A social worker helps individuals and families cope with challenges and improve their well-being. This course may be useful for a social worker as it provides insights into human behavior and communication. While this course focuses on 'dark arts' of social engineering, understanding the techniques used to influence and manipulate others can help a social worker recognize when clients are being exploited or are engaging in harmful behaviors. Moreover, the skills taught in this course about building trust and rapport, may improve the social worker's ability to connect with clients and provide effective support. The social worker may also find the course helpful in uncovering important secrets.

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Although not about social engineering, this book by Simon Baron-Cohen provides insights into manipulative behavior that can be relevant to understanding social engineering techniques.
By Christopher Hadnagy, a renowned social engineer, delves into the psychological and sociological aspects of social engineering.
By Kevin Mitnick, a former hacker and convicted felon, provides a comprehensive overview of social engineering techniques and how to protect against them.
Although not specifically about social engineering, this book by Robert Cialdini explores the principles of persuasion and how they can be applied to influence behavior.
By Stephan Joubert focuses on security deception techniques, which can be used to detect and mitigate social engineering attacks.
By Richard Ford examines the human factor in information security and how social engineering attacks can exploit vulnerabilities in human behavior.
Provides an analysis of the challenges of using HUMINT to cyberwarfare, including chapters on the use of HUMINT to identify cyber threats, the use of HUMINT to disrupt cyber attacks, and the use of HUMINT to protect national security. Rid professor of strategic studies at the University of Cambridge.
Provides an analysis of the challenges of using HUMINT to counterterrorism, including chapters on the use of HUMINT to prevent terrorist attacks, the use of HUMINT to track down terrorists, and the use of HUMINT to disrupt terrorist networks. Riedel former CIA officer and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.
Provides an ethical analysis of HUMINT, including chapters on the use of deception, the protection of human subjects, and the accountability of HUMINT officers. Charters former CIA officer and a professor of ethics at the University of Notre Dame.
Provides a look at the future of HUMINT, including chapters on the challenges and opportunities facing HUMINT in the 21st century. Lowenthal former CIA Deputy Director and a professor of international relations at the University of California, Berkeley.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the HUMINT profession, including its history, ethics, and career opportunities.
Provides a scientific approach to HUMINT, including chapters on the psychology of human intelligence, the use of technology in HUMINT, and the analysis of HUMINT data. Yager former CIA officer and a professor of psychology at the University of Southern California.
This official CIA publication offers a concise and accessible introduction to HUMINT, covering the fundamentals of human intelligence collection and analysis.
This insider's account provides a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of HUMINT operations, offering valuable lessons for practitioners and policymakers alike.
While not strictly focused on HUMINT, this book provides valuable insights into the psychological factors that influence intelligence analysis, including bias, heuristics, and the role of unconscious processes.
This comprehensive guide covers the full spectrum of HUMINT operations, from planning and recruitment to analysis and reporting.
Emphasizes the importance of human relationships in HUMINT operations and provides practical guidance on building trust, rapport, and motivation.
Provides a unique perspective on HUMINT from the perspective of a former CIA Director. McLaughlin discusses the history, culture, and challenges of HUMINT, as well as its future prospects. McLaughlin former CIA Director and a professor of international relations at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
This comprehensive guide provides a thorough overview of the theory and practice of HUMINT, including chapters on planning and execution, as well as ethical and legal considerations. Steele former CIA officer and a leading expert in the field of HUMINT.

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