...the user up to a new form of crime, social engineering. In my ????? class, Professor ???? talked about one particular example of social engineering dating back to ancient times, the Trojan Horse. It is considered one the most well-known examples of social engineering in history; a hollow statue built by the Greeks to allow them access to the city of Troy. This seemingly harmless wood statue was not apparent to be a threat by the Trojans and unfortunately resulted in the fall of the city of Troy to the Greeks. Social engineering works in somewhat the same way. In modern times it is a way for criminals to access your computer, office or confidential information for illegal purposes. In this paper, I will discuss 3 of the most common types of social engineering attacks; phishing, snooping and dumpster diving. Issues Analysis Firs I want to talk about one of the most common types of social engineering, phishing. Phishing is a computer criminal activity that uses a special engineering as a disguise on a website in order to acquire credit card information, social security, and other important information about the user. The first use of phishing started...
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...Attackers then use this information against the organization during the psychological methods stage. (Jones, 2003). In this scenario a supervisor that handles customer complaints received an email that one of the product listings on the organization’s website was incorrect. The link provided in the email redirected the user to a page containing a script, that once run, compromised the supervisor’s computer by downloading and installing a Trojan horse and opening a remote access session for the attacker which allowed him to access and downloaded confidential files from the system. During the first stage, the attacker impersonated a customer from account information perhaps discovered during a reconnaissance attack in the form of dumpster diving in the organization’s garbage. The hacker calls the customer support line found on the organization’s website to obtain the supervisor’s email address. The second stage targets the under trained call center personnel to provide detailed information about their supervisor; name, title and contact information. After discussing the problem with a customer support representative the attacker convinces them to...
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...Certified Ethical Hacking - The 5 phases Every Hacker Must Follow The 5 Phases Every Hacker Must Follow Originally, to “hack” meant to possess extraordinary computer skills to extend the limits of computer systems. Hacking required great proficiency. However, today there are automated tools and codes available on the Internet that makes it possible for anyone with a will and desire, to hack and succeed. Mere compromise of the security of a system does not denote success. There are websites that insist on “taking back the net” as well as those who believe that they are doing all a favor by posting the exploit details. These can act as a detriment and can bring down the skill level required to become a successful attacker. The ease with which system vulnerabilities can be exploited has increased while the knowledge curve required to perform such exploits has shortened. The concept of the elite/super hacker is an illusion. However, hackers are generally intelligent individuals with good computer skills, with the ability to create and explore into the computer’s software and hardware. Their intention can be either to gain knowledge or to dig around to do illegal things. Attackers are motivated by the zeal to know more while malicious attackers would intend to steal data. In general, there are five phases in which an intruder advances an attack: 1. Reconnaissance 2. Scanning 3. Gaining Access 4. Maintaining Access 5. Covering Tracks For More Informaton contact EC-Council – (505)341-3228...
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...Control Fundamentals and Security Threats To: John Smith, Business Manager From: your name Date: n/a Subject: Security threats and the need for security measures The need for security measures is vital to the company. The risk of not protecting against known security threats can be catastrophic. For example, an insider attack can obtain business advantage (long-term business benefits), financial gain, and sabotage which can disrupt performance and corrupt data. Computer criminals known as hackers can obtain secure company information or even create malicious software to harm the system. We must implement ways to make the company more secure by installing firewalls, virus protection, spyware, and other malware protection. The following are three specific social engineering techniques and how to best prepare employees for each potential attack. • Dumpster diving a social engineering attack in which malicious users search through the organization’s trash in the hope of retrieving useful inside information. We must ensure documents and data are properly destroyed before disposing such as using a shredded for hard copies. Providing training and educating employees on guidelines on how to safely dispose of information. • Tailgating is an attack in which a malicious user follows closely behind an authorized user to bypass a security access point. Malicious users can also persuade someone to grant them access to an area without authorization by claiming to have lost or forgotten...
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...Identifying Potential Malicious Attacks, Threats and Vulnerabilities Brian Cox Strayer Univerity Professor Leonard Roden Networking Security Fundamentals May 03, 2016 Have you ever thought about the measures that you need to go through when protecting yourself from online threats and attacks? There are many different types of attacks and threats that can be carried out against networks and organizations. The attacks that could be carried out can cause serious damage to the company and range on a scale from very minimal to very severe data loss and data theft. It is important for companies to take every precaution available and have not only the best software for prevention of these attacks but stay on top of what the intruders, hackers, attackers are learning and how the technology is forming when they are deploying these systems on their servers, networks, and office computers that employees will use on a day to day basis. The computers each employee is using should come with a User Agreement and the do’s and do not’s when it comes to daily computer usage. This will enhance the security as each employee will understand what is acceptable and how to obtain maximum security of their signed computer. It is also advisable within the User Agreement to list out the things that are unacceptable such as plugging in your phone, downloading things from the internet, and other things that may seem harmless but could hurt the company if it was exploited by accident...
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...How to Prevent, Perceive, and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft How to Prevent, Perceive, and Protect Yourself from Identity Theft Abstract What is Identity Theft? And the answer is that identity theft is a crime. Identity theft and identity fraud is the terminology used to refer to all types of crime which someone illegally obtains and uses another person's personal information in some way that involves fraud or deception, usually for economic gain. I will explain why you need to take precautions to prevent yourself from being a victim of identity theft. Unlike your fingerprints, which are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their use, but your personal data especially your Social Security number, your bank account or credit card number, and other valuable identifying data can be utilized, if they fall into the wrong hands, to personally profit at your expense. All over the country, for example, many people have reported that unauthorized persons have taken funds out of their bank or financial accounts, or, in the worst cases, taken over their identities altogether, running up enormous debts and committing crimes while using their victims's names. In many cases, a victim's losses may consist of not only out-of-pocket financial losses, but destroying your credit history, substantial financial costs associated with trying to restore their name and reputation in the community which they live, and correcting erroneous information the criminal is...
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...engineering techniques are based on specific attributes of human decision-making known as cognitive biases.[3] These biases, sometimes called "bugs in the human hardware," are exploited in various combinations to create attack techniques, some of which are listed here: Pretexting[edit] Pretexting (adj. pretextual), also known in the UK as blagging or bohoing, is the act of creating and using an invented scenario (the pretext) to engage a targeted victim in a manner that increases the chance the victim will divulge information or perform actions that would be unlikely in ordinary circumstances.[4] An elaborate lie, it most often involves some prior research or setup and the use of this information for impersonation (e.g., date of birth, Social Security number, last bill amount) to establish legitimacy in the mind of the target.[5] This technique can be used to fool a business into disclosing customer information as well as by private investigators to obtain telephone records, utility records, banking records and other information directly from 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. Pretexting can also be used to impersonate co-workers, police, bank, tax authorities, clergy, insurance investigators — or any other individual who could have perceived authority or right-to-know in the mind of the targeted victim. The pretexter...
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...critical or confidential data to malicious attack from anywhere in the world. This paper is intended to discuss an emerging threat vector which combines social engineering and technology. Utilizing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) convenience combined with electronic mail phishing techniques, Vishing has the potential to be a highly successful threat vector. Vishing victims face identity theft and/or financial fraud. An increased awareness about these attacks will provide an effective means for overcoming the security issues. INDEX 1. Introduction 1 2. What is Vishing? 1 3. How Vishing works? 2 4. The Problem of Trust 4 5. Vishing Characteristics 5 5.1. Type of data prone to attack 5 5.2. Data usage by the attacker 6 6. Other Attacks 6 6.1. Dumpster diving 6 6.2. Card Owner Validation 7 6.3. Handset Blackmail 7 6.4. Exploit payloads 7 7. Overcoming Vishing 7 8. Conclusion 8 References 9 1. Introduction: Many of today’s widespread threats rely heavily on social engineering techniques, which are used to manipulate people into performing actions or divulging confidential information to leverage and exploit technology weaknesses. Phishing is the most commonly exploited threat currently plaguing the Internet and its users. At one point, phishing referred exclusively to the use of e-mail to deliver...
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...Contents Assignment of monetary value 3 Whistle-blowing 9 Competitor Intelligence 13 Business Ethics 16 Is business ethics important, if so why? 16 Assignment of monetary value Utilitarianism and cost-benefit analysis are indispensable tools, in the situations where people have to make decisions. In a free society, individuals, or voluntary associations of individuals (whether corporations, nonprofits, households, or informal gatherings) often need to make decisions. Looking at the costs and benefits of individual decisions is important. The important thing to note here is, though, that different decision-makers may assign different costs and benefits to the same things, and thus come up with different courses of action. This is because different people have different preferences, different bases of experience, and different goals. Thus, there is no one-size-fits-all cost-benefit analysis, but the tools and principles of cost-benefit an analysis are useful to all. Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of applying cost-benefit analyses to things that are not usually measured in tangible monetary terms. There are two kinds of objections. One is the objection to any “apples to oranges” comparison. Second is the fact that some things get debased when valued in monetary or utilitarian terms. Both of these are valid criticisms, but in situations where we do need to make decisions, we really have no choice but to weigh different forms of cost and...
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...Abstract The Federal Trade Commission considers identity theft to be the fastest growing crime in the country. The Internet has become a hot zone for attracting identity theft thieves to steal personal information. Identity theft is divided into four basic areas – financial identity theft, criminal identity theft, identity cloning and business and commercial identity theft. Criminals obtain our personal information through methods such as using an insider, dumpster diving, computer hacking, war driving, phishing and pre-texting. The Department of Justice prosecutes identity theft under federal statutes. Congress passed the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, Title 18 United States Code 1028 in 1998. One of the most noted identity theft cases was USA v. Cummings. The largest hacking and identity theft case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice involved eleven people who stole more than forty million credit and debit card numbers. To severely curtail on identity theft, President Bush mandated Executive Order 13402 called the Identity Theft Task Force. Identity theft causes immeasurable damage to peoples’ names and reputations. Greater awareness and education will help us to combat identity theft. Identity Theft It’s a nightmare that can leave an unsuspecting person feeling violated and vulnerable. It doesn’t care who you are or where you live. Gender, race and age are totally irrelevant. In this modern technological age, it is a crime that can realistically...
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...networks and equipment. An attacker may appear to be trustworthy and authorized, possibly claiming to be a new employee, repair person, researcher and even offering credentials to support that identity. If an attacker is not able to gather enough information from one source, he or she may contact another source within the same organization and rely on the information from the first source to add to his or her credibility. In the past companies would assume if they setup authentication processes, firewalls, virtual private networks, and network-monitoring the software their network would be safe. Social Engineering bypasses the technical security measures and targets the human element in the organization. SOCIAL ENGINEERING ATTACK Social engineering attacks are personal. Hackers understand that employees are often the weakest link in a security system. One of the greatest dangers of social engineering is that attacks need not to work against everyone. A single successful victim can provide enough information to trigger an attack that can affect entire organization. There are numerous types of social engineering attacks including but not limited to Trojan and phishing email messages, impersonation, persuasion, bribery, shoulder surfing,...
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...Abstract This paper discusses identity theft in terms of its impact, its character and its prevention. In the paper, particular attention is given to the types of primary identity theft classifications, some online methodologies of identity theft and finally, some preventive measures. The paper discusses how identity theft is found to be a massive problem in terms of financial losses to both corporations and individuals and is expected to grow in severity over the next few years. From the Paper "Identity theft occurs when an unauthorized person obtains another's name and a piece of critical identifying information about that person such as a credit card or bank account number, social security number or driver's license number. With these two pieces of information, someone can open credit card accounts in someone else's name and go on spending sprees for personal items or for things that can easily be sold. When bills are not paid, the delinquent account shows up on that person's credit report. The identity thief can change the mailing address on the victim's credit card account thus delaying the discovery of the theft. The imposter then runs up big bills on the victim's account, and since they are being sent to the new address, one would have no way of knowing any of this was going on." Abstract The paper discusses the growing issue of identity theft through a case study. Due to the subject's fear of telling his wife what had happened, especially so he should not lose...
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...Security Threats & Vulnerabilities As information technology grows also does the need to protect technology or information on the system. Before we can protect the information on a system we need to know what to protect and how to protect them. First must decide what a threat to our system is. A Security threat is anything or anyone that comprise data integrity, confidentiality, and availability of a system. Another security issue for systems is Vulnerabilities in software that can be exploited by people that want to do harm to a system. It’s up to the personnel or team that’s in charge of protecting the system from threats and vulnerabilities. The personnel that secure information technology systems are known as (ISO) Information Security Officer, (IASO) Information Assurance Security Officer, (ISM) Information Security Manager ect. No matter what name the personnel there job is the same to protect information systems. Security Officers will have to set policies that govern the system and create plan on how to handle security threat and vulnerabilities. Security threats can consist of any number issues ranging from physical attack, spoofing, password attacks, identity theft, virus attacks, and Denial of Service attacks, Social Threats, Espionage, malware, spyware, Careless Employees, and hackers. We will disuse all of these threats and ways to prevent them later in the report. In 2010 Kevin Prince, CTO, Perimeter E-Security "As these security threats are becoming more...
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...schemes to coax us into giving our information to them. Companies invest millions of dollars into new technologies meant to keep criminals out of databases, and criminals simply bypass these obstacles with combinations of cutting-edge and archaic techniques. It’s a vicious cycle that seems to have no end. So how can we as consumers protect ourselves from these identity thieves? Consumers must take a more active role in their financial lives, especially when it comes to online transactions. People often rely on stores and banks to protect their identities online. This is a huge mistake, as 97 percent of companies are getting breached. A problem this widespread is not one that can be taken lightly. And we at SERGS security group want to be one of the extra layers of security you use to protect your financial identity. We cannot guarantee that your information won’t be stolen at some point. No one can. But by monitoring online activity,...
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...ASSIGNMENT 1: REVIEW OF BUSINESS FRAUD ABSTRACT Business fraud is a white-collar crime that is increasing at a rapid pace. One case of business fraud dealt with an information breach within Bank of America’s information system. This breach affected over 300 Bank of America customers. Management failed to provide proper security for their information system and the sensitive information of their customers. The following assignment will give detailed specifics about the case, clarify the classification of this particular fraud, and suggest recommendations that can help prevent this fraud from reoccurring. ASSIGNMENT 1: Review of Business Fraud On May 24, 2011, an investigation was in process within the Bank of America organization for potential business fraud. A Bank of America employee had manage to copy the personal information of over 300 of the bank’s customers. The security breach allowed the Bank of America employee to communicate the sensitive information of the customers to a ring of scammers. Customer information compromised included the customers’ names, physical addresses, Social Security numbers, contact numbers, checking account numbers, savings account numbers, routing numbers, driver's license numbers, date of births, email addresses, mother's maiden names, PINs and the balances on their accounts. Scammers used this information to start up credit cards and to spend the money available on the customers’ bank accounts. The leaking of the confidential...
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