What happens when your pretext falls apart the moment someone challenges your story?
In this Simply Cyber Skills Stream, Alethe Denis, Senior Security Consultant II at Bishop Fox and DEF CON Black Badge-winning social engineer, shares how to build pretexts that can withstand real-world pressure during physical red team engagements.
Most social engineering discussions focus on what to say. This session focuses on how to create believable stories that hold up when faced with skeptical employees, unexpected questions, or situations that do not go according to plan.
Drawing from her experience in social engineering, physical security assessments, and offensive security operations, Alethe will discuss the mindset and preparation behind creating stronger, more resilient pretexts for real-world engagements.
This Skills Stream is designed for red teamers, social engineers, OSINT practitioners, physical security professionals, and anyone interested in the human side of offensive security.
What You Will Learn
• Why some pretexts fail under pressure
• How to think beyond memorized scripts
• The importance of preparation and adaptability during engagements
• Common challenges encountered during physical social engineering operations
• What makes a pretext believable in real-world scenarios
By the end of this session, attendees will have a better understanding of how experienced social engineers approach pretext building for physical red team engagements and why flexibility matters just as much as preparation.
Connect with Alethe on LinkedIn:
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