Social Engineering Fundamentals, Part I: Hacker Tactics Sarah Granger 2001-12-18
References Ameritech Consumer Information “Social Engineering Fraud,” http://www.ameritech.com/content/0,3086,92,00.html Anonymous “Social engineering: examples and countermeasures countermeasures from the real-world,” real-world,” Computer Security Institute http://www.gocsi.com/soceng.htm Arthurs, Wendy: “A Proactive Proactive Defence to Social Engineering,” Engineering,” SANS Institute, August 2, 2001. http://www.sans.org/infosecF http://www.sans .org/infosecFAQ/social/defence AQ/social/defence.htm .htm Berg, Al: “Al Berg Cracking a Social Engineer,” by, LAN Times Nov. 6, 1995. http://packetstorm.decepticons.org http://packetstorm .decepticons.org/docs/social-engineer /docs/social-engineering/soc_eng2.html ing/soc_eng2.html Bernz 1: “Bernz’s Social Engineering Intro Page” http://packetstorm.decepticons.org http://packetstorm .decepticons.org/docs/social-engineer /docs/social-engineering/socintro.html ing/socintro.html Bernz 2: “The complete Social Engineering FAQ!” http://packetstorm.decepticons.org http://packetstorm .decepticons.org/docs/social-engineer /docs/social-engineering/socialen.txt ing/socialen.txt Harl “People Hacking: The Psychology of Social Engineering” Text Text of Harl’s Talk at Access All Areas III, March 7, 1997. http://packetstorm.decepticons.org http://packetstorm .decepticons.org/docs/social-engineer /docs/social-engineering/aaatalk.html ing/aaatalk.html Mitnick, Kevin: “My first RSA Conference,” Conference,” SecurityFocus, April 30, 2001 http://www.securityfocus.com/news/199 Orr, Chris “Social Engineering: A Backdoor to the Vault,”, SANS Institute, September 5, 2000 http://www.sans.org/infosecFAQ/social/backdoor.htm Palumbo, John “Social Engineering: Engineering: What is it, why is so litt le said about it and what can be done?”, done?”, SANS Institute, July 26, 2000 http://www.sans.org/infosecF http://www.sans .org/infosecFAQ/social/social.htm AQ/social/social.htm Stevens, George: “Enhancing Defenses Against Social Engineering” SANS Institute, March 26, 2001 http://www.sans.org/infosecF http://www.sans .org/infosecFAQ/social/defense AQ/social/defense_social.htm _social.htm Tims, Rick “Social Engineering: Policies and Education a Must ” SANS Institute, February 16, 2001 http://www.sans.org/infosecF http://www.sans .org/infosecFAQ/social/policies.htm AQ/social/policies.htm Verizon Verizon “PBX Social Engineering Scam” 2000 http://www.bellatlantic.com/security/fr http://www.be llatlantic.com/security/fraud/pbx_scam.htm aud/pbx_scam.htm VIGILANTe “Social Engineering” 2001 http://www.vigilante.com/inetsecurity/socialengineering.htm
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Social engineering (security) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedi enc yclopediaa
Jump to: navigation navigation,, search This article is about manipulation of individuals. For social engineering in terms of influencing popular behavior, behavior, see Social engineering (political science). science).
is the act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging confidential information. While similar to a confidence trick or trick or simple fraud fraud,, the term typically applies to trickery or deception for the purpose of information gathering, fraud, or computer system access; in most cases the attacker never comes face-to-face with the victim.
Social engineering
Contents [hide hide]] •
1 Socia Sociall engin engineering eering techniques techni ques and terms 1.1 Pre Pretex texting ting 1.2 Phi Phishi shing ng 1.2.1 IVR or phone phishing phish ing 1.2.2 1.2 .2 Bai Baitin tingg 1.3 Quid pro quo 1.4 Other type typess 2 Notabl Notablee socia sociall engine engineers ers 2.1 Kev Kevin in Mitn Mitnick ick 2.2 The Badir Brothers Brother s 2.3 Others 3 Uni United ted States State s law 3.1 Pretexting of telepho telephone ne recor records ds 3.2 Feder Federal al legisl legislation ation 3.3 1st Sourc Sourcee Infor Information mation Specialists Specialis ts 3.4 Hewlett Packa Packard rd 4 In popula popularr culture 5 Se Seee al also so o o
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6 Ref Refere erence ncess 6.1 Notes 6.2 Further reading o o
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7 Ext Extern ernal al link linkss
[edit edit]] Social engineering techniques and terms All social engineering techniques are based on specific attributes of human decisionmaking known as cognitive biases. biases.[1] These biases, sometimes called "bugs in the human hardware," are exploited in various combinations to create attack techniques, some of which are listed here: [edit edit]] Pretexting Pretexting' is the act of creating and using an invented scenario (the pretext pretext)) to persuade a targeted victim to release information or perform an action and is typically done over the telephone. It is more than a simple lie as it most often involves some prior research or set up and the use of pieces of known information (e.g. for impersonation: date of birth, Social Security Number, Number , last bill amount) to [2] establish legitimacy in the mind of the target.
This technique is often used to trick a business into disclosing customer information, and is used by private investigators to obtain telephone records, utility records, banking records and other information directly from junior company service representatives. The information can then be used to establish even greater legitimacy under tougher questioning with a manager (e.g., to make account changes, get specific balances, etc). As most U.S. companies still authenticate a client by asking only for a Social Security Number, date of birth, or mother's maiden name, the method is effective in many situations and will likely continue to be a security problem in the future. Pretexting can also be used to impersonate co-workers, police, bank, tax authorities, or insurance investigators — or any other individual who could have perceived authority or right-to-know in the mind of the targeted victim. The pretexter must simply prepare answers to questions that might be asked by the victim. In some cases all that is needed is a voice that sounds authoritative, an earnest tone, and an ability to think on one's feet. [edit edit]] Phishing
Main article: Phishing Phishing is a technique of fraudulently obtaining private information. Typically, Typically, the phisher sends an e-mail that appears to come from a legitimate business—a bank, or credit card company—requesting "verification" of information and warning of some dire
consequence if it is not provided. The e-mail usually contains a link to a fraudulent web page that seems legitimate—with company logos and content—and has a form requesting everything from a home address to an ATM card c ard''s PIN PIN.. For example, 2003 saw the proliferation of a phishing scam in which users received emails supposedly from eBay claiming that the user’s account was about to be suspended unless a link provided was clicked to update a credit card (information that the genuine eBay already had). Because Beca use it is relatively simple to make a Web Web site resemble a legitimate organization's site by mimicking the HTML code, the scam counted on people being tricked into thinking they were being contacted by b y eBay and subsequently, were going to eBay’s site to update their account information. By spamming large groups of people, the “phisher” counted on the e-mail being read by a percentage of people who already had listed credit card numbers with eBay legitimately, who might respond. [edit edit]] IVR or phone phishing
This technique uses a rogue Interactive voice response (IVR) system to recreate a legitimate sounding copy of a bank or other institution's IVR system. The victim is prompted (typically via a phishing e-mail) to call in to the "bank" via a (ideally toll free) number provided in order to "verify" information. A typical system will reject log-ins continually, continually, ensuring the victim enters PINs or passwords p asswords multiple times, often disclosing several different passwords. More advanced systems transfer the victim to the attacker posing as a customer service agent for further questioning. One could even record the typical commands ("Press one to change your password, press two to speak to customer service" ...) and play back the direction manually in real time, giving the appearance of being an IVR without the expense. The technical name for phone phishing, is vishing vishing.. [edit edit]] Baiting
Baiting is like the real-world Trojan Horse that uses physical media and relies on the curiosity or greed of the victim.[3] In this attack, the attacker leaves a malware infected floppy disk , CD ROM, ROM, or USB or USB flash drive in a location sure to be found (bathroom, elevator, sidewalk, parking lot), gives it a legitimate looking and curiosity-piquing label, and simply waits for the victim to use the device. For example, an attacker might create a disk featuring a corporate logo, logo, readily available off the target's web site, and write "Executive Salary Summary Q2 2009" on the front. The attacker would then leave the disk on the floor of an elevator or somewhere in the lobby of the targeted company. An unknowing employee might find it and subsequently insert the disk into a computer to satisfy their curiosity cur iosity,, or a good samaritan might find it and turn it in to the company.
In either case as a consequence of merely inserting the disk into a computer to see the contents, the user would unknowingly install malware on it, likely giving an attacker unfettered access to the victim's PC and perhaps, the targeted company's internal computer network . Unless computer controls block the infection, PCs set to "auto-run" inserted media may be compromised as soon as a rogue disk is inserted. [edit edit]] Quid pro quo
Quid pro quo means something for something : •
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An attacker calls random numbers at a company claiming to be calling back from technical support. Eventually they will hit someone with a legitimate problem, grateful that someone is calling back to help them. The attacker will "help" solve the problem and in the process have the user type commands that give the attacker access or launch malware malware.. In a 2003 information security survey, 90% of office workers gave researchers what they claimed was their password password in answer to a survey question in exchange [4] for a cheap pen cheap pen.. Similar surveys in later years obtained similar results using chocolates and other cheap lures, although they made no attempt to validate the passwords.[5]
[edit edit]] Other types
Common confidence tricksters or fraudsters or fraudsters also could be considered "social engineers" in the wider sense, in that they deliberately deceive and manipulate people, exploiting human weaknesses to obtain personal benefit. They may, for example, use social engineering techniques as part of an IT fraud. The latest type of social engineering techniques include spoofing or hacking IDs of people having popular e-mail IDs such as Yahoo Yahoo,, Gmail Gmail,, Hotmail Hotmail,, etc. Among the many motivations for deception are: • •
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Phishing credit-card account numbers and their passwords. Hacking private e-mails and chat histories, and manipulating them by using common editing techniques before using them to extort money and creating distrust among individuals. Hacking websites of companies or organizations and destroying their reputation.
[edit edit]] Notable social engineers [edit edit]] Kevin Mitnick
Reformed computer criminal and later, security consultant Kevin Mitnick popularized Mitnick popularized the term 'social engineering', pointing out that it is much easier to trick someone into giving a password for a system than to spend the effort to hack into the system.[6] He claims it was the single most effective method in his arsenal. [edit edit]] The Badir Brothers
Ramy, Ramy, Muzher, and Shadde Badir Bad ir - brothers, all a ll of whom were blind from birth, managed to set up an extensive phone and computer fraud scheme in Israel in the 1990s using social engineering, voice impersonation, and Braille-display computers.[7] [edit edit]] Others
Other noted social engineers include Frank Abagnale, Abagnale, Dave Buchwald, Buchwald, David Bannon, Bannon, Peter Foster , Stanley Mark Rifkin and Steven Jay Russell. Russell.
[edit edit]] United States law The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject . Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. page. In common law, law, pretexting is an invasion of privacy tort of appropriation.[8] [edit edit]] Pretexting of telephone records
In December 2006, United States Congress approved a Senate sponsored bill making the pretexting of telephone records a federal felony with fines of up to $250,000 and ten years in prison for individuals (or fines of up to $500,000 for companies). It was signed by president George W. W. Bush on January 12, 12, 2007 2007..[9] [edit edit]] Federal legislation
The 1999 "GLBA" is a U.S. Federal law that specifically addresses pretexting of banking records as an illegal act punishable under federal statutes. When a business entity such as a private investigator, SIU insurance investigator, or an adjuster conducts any type of deception, it falls under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This federal agency has the obligation and authority to ensure that consumers are not subjected to any unfair or deceptive d eceptive business practices. US Federal Trade Commission Act, Section 5 of the FTCA states, in part: "Whenever the Commission shall have reason to believe that any such person, partnership, or corporation has been or is using any unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or practice in or affecting commerce, and if it shall appear to the Commission that a proceeding by it in respect thereof would be to the interest of the public, it shall issue and serve upon such person, partnership, or corporation a complaint stating its charges in that respect."
The statute states that when someone obtains any personal, non-public information from a financial institution or the consumer, their action is subject to the statute. It relates to the consumer's relationship with the financial institution. For example, a pretexter using false pretenses either to get a consumer's address from the consumer's bank, or to get a consumer to disclose the name of his or her bank, would be covered. The determining principle is that pretexting only occurs when information is obtained through false pretenses. While the sale of cell telephone records has gained significant media attention, and telecommunications records are the focus of the two bills currently before the United States Senate, Senate, many other types of private records are being bought and sold in the public market. Alongside many advertisements for cell for cell phone records, wireline records and the records associated with calling cards are advertised. As individuals shift to VoIP VoIP telephones, it is safe to assume that those records will be offered for sale as well. Currently, Currently, it is legal to sell telephone records, but b ut illegal to obtain them.[10] [edit edit]] 1st Source Information Specialists
U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-Kalamazoo (R-Kalamazoo,, Michigan Michigan), ), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, expressed concern over the easy access to personal cell phone records on the Internet during Wednesday's E&C Committee hearing on "Phone Records For Sale: Why Aren't Phone Records Safe From Pretexting?" Illinois became the first state to sue an online records broker when Attorney General Lisa Madigan sued 1st Source Information Specialists, Inc., on 20 January, January, a spokeswoman for Madigan's office said. The Florida Florida-based -based company operates several Web sites that sell cell telephone records, according to a copy of the suit. The attorneys general of Florida of Florida and Missouri quickly followed Madigan's lead, filing suit on 24 January and 30 January, January, respectively, against 1st Source Information Specialists and, an d, in Missouri's case, one other records broker - First Data Solutions, Inc. Several wireless providers, including T-Mobile, Verizon, Verizon, and Cingular filed earlier lawsuits against records brokers, with Cingular winning an injunction against First Data Solutions and 1st Source Information Specialists on January 13. 13. U.S. Senator Charles Senator Charles Schumer (DSchumer (D- New New York ) introduced legislation in February 2006 aimed at curbing the practice. The Consumer Telephone Records Protection Act of 2006 would create felony criminal penalties for stealing and selling the records of mobile of mobile phone, phone, landline landline,, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) (VoIP) subscribers. [edit edit]] Hewlett Packard
Patricia Dunn, Dunn, former chairman of Hewlett Packard, reported that the HP board hired a private investigation company to delve into who was responsible for leaks within the board. Dunn acknowledged that this company used the practice of pretexting to solicit the telephone records of board members and journalists. Chairman Dunn later apologized for this act and offered to step down from the board if it was desired by board members.[11]
Unlike Federal law, California law specifically forbids such pretexting. The four felony charges brought on Dunn were dismissed[12].
[edit edit]] In popular culture •
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In the film Hackers, the protagonist the protagonist used a form of social engineering, where the main character accessed a TV network's control system by telephoning the security guard for the telephone number to the station's modem, posing as an important executive. Although the film is not highly accurate, the particular method demonstrates the power of social engineering when applied to criminal behavior. In Jeffrey Deaver's book The Blue Nowhere, social engineering to obtain confidential information is one of the methods used by the killer, k iller, Phate, to get close to his victims. In the movie Live Free or Die Hard , Justin Long is seen pretexting that his father is dying from a heart attack to have a BMW Assist representative start what will become a stolen car. In the movie Sneakers, one of the characters poses as a low level security guard's superior in order to convince him that a security breach is just a false alarm. In the movie The Thomas Crown Affair , one of the characters poses over the telephone as a museum guard's superior in order to move the guard away from his post. In the James Bond movie Diamonds Are Forever , Bond is seen gaining entry to the Whyte laboratory with a then-state-of-the-art card-access lock system by "tailgating tailgating". ". He merely waits for an employee to come to open the door, then posing himself as a rookie at the lab, fakes inserting a non-existent card while the door is unlocked for him by the employee.
[edit edit]] See also • • • •
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Phishing Confidence trick Certified Social Engineering Prevention Specialist (CSEPS) Media pranks, pranks, which often use similar tactics (though usually not for criminal purposes) Physical information security Vishing SMiShing
[edit edit]] References [edit edit]] Notes
Workbook" (2004), unit 3, Mitnick Security Publishing. 1. ^ Mitnick, K: "CSEPS Course Workbook" 2. ^ "Pretexting: Your Personal Information Revealed, Revealed ," Federal Trade Commission 3. ^ http://www http://www.darkreading.com/document .darkreading.com/document.asp?doc_id=95556&WT .asp?doc_id=95556&WT.svl=column1_1 .svl=column1_1 4. ^ Office workers give away passwords 5. ^ Passwords revealed by sweet deal 6. ^ Mitnick, K: "CSEPS Course Workbook" Workbook" (2004), p. 4, Mitnick Security Publishing. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/ .wired.com/wired/archive/12.02/phreaks.html 12.02/phreaks.html 7. ^ http://www 8. ^ Restatement 2d of Torts § 652C. 9. ^ Congress outlaws pretexting, pretexting , Eric Bangeman, 12/11/2006 11:01:01, Ars Technica 10. ^ Mitnick, K (2002): "The Art of Deception", p. 103 Wiley Publishing Ltd: Indianapolis, Indiana; United States of America. ISBN 0-471-23712-4 'e mbarrassing' Stephen Shankland, 2006-09-08 1:08 11. ^ HP chairman: Use of pretexting 'embarrassing' PM PDT CNET News.com News.com 12. ^ Calif. court drops charges against Dunn [edit edit]] Further reading •
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Boyington, Gregory. (1990). Baa Baa Black Sheep Published by Bantam Books ISBN 0-553-26350-1 Leyden, John. April 18, 2003. Office workers give away passwords for a cheap pen. The Register . Retrieved 2004 2004--09-09 09-09.. Tech Hacking - A Guide to Social S ocial Engeering, Dumpster Long, Johnny. Johnny. (2008). No Tech Diving, and Shoulder Surfing Published by Syngress Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-159749-215-7 Mann, Ian. (2008). Hacking the Human: Social Engineering Techniques and Security Countermeasures Published by Gower Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0566087731 or ISBN or ISBN 978-0-566-08773-8 CSEPS Course Course Workbook . Mitnick Mitnick, Kevin, Kevin, Kasperavičius, Alexis. Alexis. (2004). CSEPS Security Publishing. Mitnick, Kevin, Kevin, Simon, William L., Wozniak, Steve, Steve,.. (2002). The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security Published by Wiley. ISBN 0-471-23712-4 or ISBN or ISBN 0-764-54280-X
[edit edit]] External links •
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Social Engineering Fundamentals - Securityfocus.com. Retrieved on August 3rd, 2009. Social Engineering, the USB Way Way - DarkReading.com. Retrieved on July 7th, 2006. Should Social Engineering be b e a part of Penetration Penetra tion Testing? Testing? - Darknet.org.uk . Retrieved on August 3rd, 2009.
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"Protecting Consumers' Phone Records" - US Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Retrieved on February 8th, 2006. Plotkin, Hal. Memo to the Press: Pretexting is Already Illegal. Illegal. Retrived on September 9th, 2006. Striptease for passwords - MSNBC.MSN.com. Retrieved on November 1st, 2007.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_(security) "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_engineering_(security)"" Categories:: Social engineering (computer security) Categories Hidden categories: Articles with limited geographic scope | USA-centric Views
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