Hacking for Good: How Christopher Hadnagy Turned Social Engineering into a Cybersecurity Movement

What happens when psychology, storytelling, and cybersecurity collide? You get the revolutionary work of Christopher Hadnagy, founder of Social Engineer LLC and the Innocent Lives Foundation. In this episode of Authority Architects, Chris takes us behind the scenes of a field he didn’t just work in—he practically invented it.

From Network Hacker to Human Behavior Expert

Chris didn’t start out breaking into banks—at least, not the way you think. Originally deep in network hacking and exploit writing, he quickly realized something: he wasn’t great at code—but he was great with people.

Cue the books on con artists, body language, and influence theory. Chris leaned hard into the psychology behind manipulation and deception. Instead of just poking holes in systems, he began understanding how people make decisions—and how that can be exploited or protected. The result? He built an entire industry around ethical social engineering.

Beyond Phishing: Building Trust, Education, and Real-World Defense

Social Engineer LLC isn’t just about spotting spam emails or fake IRS calls (though they do that too). They’re a:

• Training company teaching people how to spot and stop human-based attacks

• Research hub exploring how influence and neuroscience impact decision-making

• Consultancy helping banks, hospitals, and government agencies test and harden their human vulnerabilities

  
  

Chris has sent over 20 million phishing emails in simulated attacks. He’s been invited to the Pentagon. He’s written five books. And yet—he still shares the story of the time he got phished himself.

Why? Because vulnerability is human. And understanding that is what makes his work so transformative.

Turning Storytelling Into Cyber Armor

Chris’s approach isn’t about fear. It’s about relatable storytelling. When he trains clients or speaks at conferences, he doesn’t lead with “Your data is under attack.” He tells the story of how his own assistant lost $2,000 to a gift card scam. Or how his grandma, at 99, stopped a scammer cold.

These aren’t just cautionary tales—they’re calls to awareness.

7 Wonders, But Make It Cyber

At 7 Wonders, we believe that modern marketing magic lies in authentic video storytelling—and Chris gets it. His team’s “60-Second Social Engineering Tips” have gone viral on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram. Why? Because:

• They’re short and relatable

• They’re rooted in real-world scenarios

• They create immediate value with practical advice

  
  

From schools to senior centers, people are using these videos to educate and protect. It’s not 

about flash. It’s about impact. And that’s exactly what video was made for.

Lessons for Mission-Driven Marketers (and Cyber Defenders)

What can we learn from Chris Hadnagy’s journey?

• Your niche might not exist yet—build it anyway

• Don’t scare people—educate them through stories

• Consistency and authenticity matter more than jargon

• Video is a bridge to connection—and behavior change

  
  

Whether you’re in tech, education, healthcare, or storytelling—if people are part of your equation, social engineering is part of your risk. And understanding it could be your biggest defense.

🎥 Watch the full podcast episode above to hear how Chris is changing the future of cybersecurity. One human decision at a time.