#HackYourself – Dark Side of Social Engineering
Educational role-play exercise that allows participants to “step into a hacker’s shoes” and explore how social engineering works in practice.
Educational role-play exercise that allows participants to “step into a hacker’s shoes” and explore how social engineering works in practice.
Objectives and outcomes: Understand the significance of social engineering in cybersecurity. Experience how individuals’ and organizations’ information can be collected and used maliciously. Recognize the role of an individual’s digital footprint and social media activity in overall cybersecurity.
Objectives and outcomes:
- The student learns to understand the significance and impact of social engineering within the broader field of cybersecurity.
- The student learns how individuals’ and organizations’ information can be collected, analyzed, and maliciously exploited.
- The student learns to recognize how an individual’s digital footprint and social media activity contribute to cybersecurity risks.
- The student learns how to identify and apply basic defense strategies against social engineering attacks.
- The student learns that social engineering is a widespread and effective form of cyberattack that manipulates human behavior.
27th of April 2026 to 12th of June 2026
English
To be defined by each home institution. Generally, most students will have this SAP certified in their diploma supplement, as a minimal requirement.
RUN-EU Students
Programme at a glance
18 May 2026
Morning: Challenge presentation
- Purpose and Significance of the Role-Playing Exercise
- Role-Playing Exercise Introduction
- Ethical Rules and Boundaries
Grouping
Afternoon: Open source Intelligence (OSINT)
- Lecture: Open source Intelligence (OSINT) – What is it?
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
19 May 2026
Morning: Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT)
- Lecture: Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT)
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
Afternoon: Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT)
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
20 May 2026
Morning: Social Engineering Tools - Visualization
- Lecture: Social Engineering Tools - Visualization
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
Afternoon: Attack Planning
- Lecture: Attack Planning
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
21 May 2026
Morning: Attack planning and execution
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
Afternoon: Attack planning and execution
- Workshop, Guided Individual work
22 May 2026
Morning: Concluding the Exercise and Debriefing
- Lunch
- Back home again
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Short Advanced Programme, learners will be able to:
The student learns to understand the significance and impact of social engineering within the broader field of cybersecurity.
The student learns how individuals’ and organizations’ information can be collected, analyzed, and maliciously exploited.
The student learns to recognize how an individual’s digital footprint and social media activity contribute to cybersecurity risks.
The student learns how to identify and apply basic defense strategies against social engineering attacks.
The student learns that social engineering is a widespread and effective form of cyberattack that manipulates human behavior.
Selection criteria
Students are selected by reviewing their personal statements, motivation about subject, 5 students/organization.
Involved organisations and persons
Häme University of Applied Sciences
Lead Organisation- Ismo Turve (Lead Instructor)
NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences
Partner Organisation- Jaqueline Berghout (Instructor)
- Jeroen Pijpker (Instructor)
Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave
Partner Organisation- Nuno Lopes (Instructor)
Technological University of the Shannon
Partner Organisation- Ken Oakley (Instructor)
- Michael Winterburn (Instructor)
Other persons involved
- Niko Saxholm (Regional Stakeholder)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674