Description: Dive into the fascinating evolution of social engineering, where mass manipulation meets personal deception in the digital age. This episode traces an unsettling journey from Edward Bernays' early public relations campaigns to today's sophisticated digital influence operations. We'll examine how traditional PR tactics merged with hacker culture to create a new breed of social manipulation, capable of targeting millions while feeling personally tailored to each individual. Through compelling examples like the Cambridge Analytica scandal, discover how modern digital platforms have become the perfect stage for unprecedented levels of influence and deception. Whether you're interested in marketing history, cybersecurity, or simply understanding how you might be manipulated online, this episode reveals the hidden mechanics of modern persuasion. Learn how discarded data becomes powerful ammunition and why distinguishing truth from manipulation has never been more challenging – or more important.