$5 wrench attack

An attempt to breach a security system by attacking its human element rather than the technology itself. Most commonly used in the crypto sphere to describe tricking or extorting someone into giving up NFTs or cryptocurrency.

Named after an xkcd comic in which a man's laptop is hacked by hitting him with a "$5 wrench" until he tells the attackers his password.

Danny's having a rough week. He lost all his apes to a $5 wrench attack.