I Am Not What I Am: Shakespeare and Social Engineering
John Ridpath explores the timeless psychology of social engineering through Shakespearean villains, analyzing Iago, Richard III, and theatrical deception.
Summary
The Classical Roots of Social Engineering
Long before modern computers and phishing emails, master playwrights like William Shakespeare dissected the exact psychological mechanics of manipulation and deceit.
Analyzing Iago and Master Pretexters
John Ridpath explores characters like Iago (Othello) and Richard III, examining how they establish false rapport, exploit insecurities, and manipulate trust.
The Power of Elicitation and Indirect Suggestion
Ridpath demonstrates how Shakespearean characters plant subtle conversational seeds, prompting targets to arrive at attacker-desired conclusions independently.
Timeless Lessons for Modern Security Analysts
The presentation draws actionable parallels for modern social engineering auditors, highlighting how emotional appeals consistently bypass logical defenses.
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