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 ability of the attacker to gain the trust of the target. 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. In this article, we will discuss pretexting techniques in detail and provide real-world examples of their usage.
Overview of Pretexting
Pretexting is a social engineering technique where an attacker creates a false identity or scenario to gain access to sensitive information or perform an action that benefits the attacker. Pretexting 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 combination 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
There are several pretexting techniques that attackers can use to 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 there is a problem with their computer. The attacker might then ask the employee to log in to a fake website to resolve the problem. The attacker can then use the employee’s login credentials to access sensitive information.
Helpdesk
Another common pretexting technique is to pose as a helpdesk employee. The attacker will pretend to be from the helpdesk and convince 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 that 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 that can be used to gain the trust of the target quickly. The attacker will create a scenario where 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 that 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 where the attacker pretends to know the target or have a shared interest. The attacker will use their fake familiarity to gain the trust of the target and convince them to perform an action or reveal sensitive information.
For example, an attacker might send an email to 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 where the attacker convinces the target to perform an action that benefits the attacker. The attacker will use their knowledge of the target’s behavior to manipulate them into performing the action.
For example, an attacker might call a target pretending to be from the helpdesk and tell them that there is a problem with their computer. 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 gain access to the target’s computer.
Pretexting with False Information
Pretexting with false information is a technique where the attacker provides false information to gain the trust of the target. 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 caught up 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 gain access to the phone records of HP board members and journalists.
The investigation firm used false 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 a significant 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 information about customers 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 ability of the attacker to gain the trust of the target. 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 always verify information before providing sensitive information or access to systems. 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 that is 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 that is 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 gain access to sensitive information or perform actions that benefit them. Pretexting relies heavily on the ability of the attacker to gain the trust of the target. There are several pretexting techniques that attackers can use, 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 that is 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.