Social Engineering: Exploiting Trust in IT Teams

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason people might not question a familiar vendor's request?

They are not technically skilled

They are lazy

They are used to dealing with that vendor and trust them (correct)

They are not aware of the risks

Which social engineering tactic relies on people's obedience to authority?

Validation

Consistency

Authority (correct)

Liking

What is the goal of pretexting in social engineering?

To steal sensitive data

To create a false sense of urgency

To create a false scenario to impress others

To gain access to information or resources (correct)

Why might people comply with a request if they think others are doing the same?

They do not want to be an odd one Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason social engineering attacks are successful?

People are used to dealing with familiar vendors and trust them Signup and view all the answers

What is the best way to prevent social engineering attacks?

Being cautious and double-checking Signup and view all the answers

What is the best way to ensure that sensitive information is not recovered from a deleted file?

Encrypt the file using a long random key and then delete it Signup and view all the answers

What is a common way for attackers to gather information about a target on social media?

By creating a fake account and befriending them Signup and view all the answers

What is a risk of accepting 'connections' or 'friendships' with unfamiliar people on social media?

They may get network information and security details from the IT department Signup and view all the answers

What is a common tactic used by attackers to trick users into installing malware on their computer?

Sending them a phishing email Signup and view all the answers

What is the social engineering tactic that involves doing something for someone in order to get them to return the favor?

Reciprocation Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of an attacker who uses the scarcity tactic?

To create a sense of urgency and get the target to act quickly Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of Spear Phishing attacks?

To obtain sensitive information from specific users within an organization Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a phishing attack that uses phone calls instead of emails?

Vishing Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of a phishing email?

It creates a sense of urgency and panic Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an attack in which an attacker infects a website with malware, targeting a specific group of users?

Water Holing Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of Baiting attacks?

To exploit the greed or curiosity of a target Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for an attack where an attacker persuades a delivery company to redirect their deliveries to a different location?

Diversion Theft Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social media can be used to gather information about people, including details about their work, family, and residence, which can be used to create fake accounts and steal identities.

Identity Theft and Fake Accounts

Attackers can create fake social media accounts by using fake photos and gathering personal information about the victim, which can be used to obtain network information and security details from the IT department.

Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks involve sending fake emails or messages that appear legitimate, asking for sensitive information or leading users to malicious websites.
Typical signs of phishing emails include:
- Asking for sensitive information
- Using different domains
- Including suspicious links
- Poor spelling and grammar
- Creating a sense of panic

Other Types of Attacks

Phone phishing (vishing): Attackers use phone calls to trick victims into providing sensitive information.
Spear phishing: Targeted attacks on specific individuals in an organization to obtain sensitive information.
Water holing: Infecting websites frequently used by a group with malware to attack them.
Baiting: Exploiting human curiosity or greed to trick targets into installing malware or providing sensitive information.

Reciprocation: Attackers exploit human nature by doing something for a victim, who then feels obligated to return the favor.
Scarcity: Creating a false sense of urgency to manipulate victims into taking action.
Consistency: Exploiting trust in familiar companies or individuals to trick victims into providing sensitive information.
Liking: Using charm or attractiveness to influence victims.
Authority: Exploiting human obedience to authority figures to obtain sensitive information.
Validation: Using social proof to convince victims to take action.
Pretexting: Creating false scenarios to trick victims into providing sensitive information.

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Description

Learn how attackers can exploit trust in IT teams by pretending to be a trusted vendor or person. This type of social engineering tactic can lead to harmful software being installed on devices. Test your knowledge on how to identify and prevent such attacks.