In short, he got all sorts of information that could be used in a hacker attack. How? A bit of research and an ability to spin a few lies over the phone.

As security systems get increasingly difficult to crack, hackers are turning toward a new source of information: people.

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Hackers have always utilized people or social engineering.

Chris Hadnagy, who organizes the Def Con contest, said social engineering is a “hardly discussed, trained or defended against” threat.

“Social engineering is the easiest and most widely used way to infiltrate companies,” Hadnagy said.