Social engineering is a technique used by hackers and cybercriminals to manipulate people into performing actions that are beneficial to them. The success of social engineering attacks relies heavily on the attacker’s ability to gain the target’s trust. Pretexting is one of the most effective social engineering techniques. It involves the creation of a scenario or pretext to trick a target into revealing sensitive information or performing an action that benefits the attacker. This article will discuss pretexting techniques in detail and provide real-world examples of their usage.
Overview of Pretexting
Pretexting is a social engineering technique in which an attacker creates a false identity or scenario to gain access to sensitive information or perform an action that benefits the attacker. It is commonly used in situations where the attacker needs to gain the trust of the target. Pretexting can be performed in person, via phone, or through email.
Pretexting is often used in conjunction with other social engineering techniques, such as phishing or baiting. For example, an attacker might send a phishing email to a target and then follow up with a phone call pretending to be a member of the IT department. The attacker might then use pretexting to convince the target to reveal their password.
Pretexting Techniques
Several pretexting techniques can help attackers gain the trust of their targets. We will discuss some of the most common techniques below.
Authority
One of the most common pretexting techniques is to pose as an authority figure. This could be someone from the IT department, a manager, or a law enforcement officer. The attacker will use their fake authority to convince the target to perform an action or reveal sensitive information.
For example, an attacker might call an employee pretending to be from the IT department and tell them that their computer is having problems. The attacker might then ask the employee to log in to a fake website to resolve the issue. The attacker can then access sensitive information using the employee’s login credentials.
Helpdesk
Another common pretexting technique is to pose as a helpdesk employee. The attacker pretends to be from the helpdesk and convinces the target to provide sensitive information or perform an action.
For example, an attacker might call a target pretending to be from the helpdesk and tell them their account has been locked out. The attacker might then ask the target to provide their login credentials to resolve the issue. The attacker can then use the login credentials to access sensitive information.
Emergency
An emergency is a powerful pretexting technique for quickly gaining the target’s trust. The attacker creates a scenario in which there is an urgent need for the target to provide information or perform an action.
For example, an attacker might call a target pretending to be from the bank and tell them their account has been compromised. The attacker might then ask the target to provide their login credentials to resolve the issue quickly. The attacker can then use the login credentials to access sensitive information.
Familiarity
Familiarity is a pretexting technique in which the attacker pretends to know the target or share an interest with them. The attacker will use this fake familiarity to gain the target’s trust and convince them to perform an action or reveal sensitive information.
For example, an attacker might email a target pretending to be an old friend. The attacker might then ask the target to visit a fake website or provide sensitive information.
Reverse Social Engineering
Reverse social engineering is a technique in which the attacker convinces the target to perform an action that benefits the attacker. The attacker uses their knowledge of the target’s behavior to manipulate the target into performing the action.
For example, an attacker might call a target, pretending to be from the helpdesk, and tell them that their computer has a problem. The attacker might then ask the target to visit a fake website and download a software update to fix the issue. The software update contains malware that the attacker can use to access the target’s computer.
Pretexting with False Information
Pretexting with false information is a technique where the attacker provides false information to gain the target’s trust. The attacker will use their fake identity or scenario to convince the target to perform an action or reveal sensitive information.
For example, an attacker might call a target pretending to be from a vendor and ask them to confirm their shipping address. The attacker might provide the wrong shipping address to gain the target’s trust. The attacker can then use the shipping address to redirect the target’s packages to a different location.
Real-World Examples
There have been several high-profile pretexting attacks in recent years. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable examples.
Hewlett-Packard Pretexting Scandal
In 2006, Hewlett-Packard (HP) was involved in a pretexting scandal that resulted in the resignation of several top executives. HP hired a private investigation firm to find the source of media leaks. The investigation firm used pretexting to access the phone records of HP board members and journalists.
The investigation firm used pretenses to obtain the phone records. They pretended to be the targets and provided false information to the phone companies to gain access to the records. The scandal led to a congressional investigation and public backlash against HP.
Sarah Palin Email Hack
In 2008, Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and vice presidential candidate, had her personal email account hacked. The attacker used a combination of phishing and pretexting to gain access to Palin’s email account.
The attacker posed as Palin and contacted the email provider, claiming to have forgotten the password. The email provider then asked the attacker several security questions, which they answered correctly using information obtained through pretexting. The attacker was then able to reset the password and gain access to Palin’s email account.
Bank of America Pretexting Scandal
In 2013, Bank of America was fined $800,000 for a pretexting scandal that involved its employees. Bank of America employees were accused of using pretexting to obtain sensitive customer information from a credit reporting agency.
The employees posed as account holders and provided false information to the credit reporting agency to gain access to the information. The scandal led to a significant public backlash against Bank of America and a congressional investigation.
Prevention and Mitigation
Preventing pretexting attacks can be challenging because they rely heavily on the attacker’s ability to gain the target’s trust. However, there are several steps that individuals and organizations can take to mitigate the risk of pretexting attacks.
Security Awareness Training
Security awareness training is essential in preventing pretexting attacks. Individuals and organizations should provide regular security awareness training to employees to help them recognize and respond to social engineering attacks. Employees should be trained to verify the identity of anyone requesting sensitive information or access to systems.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can be an effective way to prevent pretexting attacks. MFA requires users to provide additional verification, such as a password and a code sent to their phone, before accessing sensitive information or systems. MFA can help prevent attackers from accessing systems even if they have obtained the user’s password through pretexting.
Verify Information
Individuals and organizations should verify information before providing sensitive information or system access. This can include verifying the identity of anyone requesting information or access and confirming that the request is legitimate.
Use Privacy Settings
Individuals should use privacy settings on social media platforms to limit the amount of personal information available to the public. Attackers can use information obtained through social media to create more convincing pretexts.
Limit Sensitive Information
Individuals and organizations should limit the amount of sensitive information stored on their systems or shared with third parties. This can help reduce the impact of a pretexting attack.
Conclusion
Pretexting is a powerful social engineering technique that attackers can use to access sensitive information or perform actions that benefit them. It relies heavily on the attacker’s ability to gain the trust of the target. Attackers can use several pretexting techniques, including posing as an authority figure, pretending to be a helpdesk employee, creating an emergency scenario, using familiarity, and reverse social engineering.
Preventing pretexting attacks can be challenging, but individuals and organizations can take several steps to mitigate the risk. This includes providing security awareness training to employees, using multi-factor authentication, verifying information, using privacy settings, and limiting the amount of sensitive information stored or shared.
Pretexting attacks can have significant consequences, as demonstrated by the high-profile examples we discussed. By understanding the techniques used in pretexting attacks and taking steps to prevent them, individuals and organizations can better protect themselves from social engineering attacks.