Legal and Ethical Considerations

1 min read Advanced Security Topics

Understanding the legal landscape surrounding social engineering is crucial:

Legal Framework:

  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the US
  • GDPR implications for data obtained through social engineering
  • Industry-specific regulations (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, etc.)
  • Corporate liability for employee actions
  • International law complexities

Ethical Boundaries:

  • Legitimate penetration testing vs. malicious attacks
  • Responsible disclosure of vulnerabilities
  • Privacy considerations in security research
  • Balancing security with user experience
  • Educational use of social engineering techniques