Security Information |
|
Social Engineering - The Real E-Terrorism?
One evening, during the graveyard shift, an AOL technical support operator took a call from a hacker. During the hour long conversation the hacker mentioned he had a car for sale. The technical support operator expressed an interest so the hacker sent him an e-mail with a photo of the car attached. When the operator opened the attachment it created a back door that opened a connection out of AOL's network, through the firewall, allowing the hacker full access to the entire internal network of AOL with very little effort on the hacker's part. The above is a true story and it is an excellent example of one of the biggest threats to an organisation's security - social engineering. It has been described as people hacking and it generally means persuading someone inside a company to volunteer information or assistance. Examples of techniques employed by hackers include:
Social engineering attacks can have devastating consequences for the businesses involved. Accounts can be lost, sensitive information can be compromised, competitive advantage can be wiped out and reputation can be destroyed. By implementing some simple techniques you can reduce the risk of your organisation becoming a victim or, in the event that you are targeted, keep the consequences to a minimum.
Conduct regular audits, not only on IT systems but also on policies, procedures and personnel so that any potential weaknesses can be addressed as soon as possible. About The Author Rhona Aylward has extensive experience in the area of Quality Management and more recently in Information Security Management. She is a qualified Lead Auditor for BS7799 and CEO for Alpha Squared Solutions Ltd. www.a2solutions.co.uk, raylward@a2solutions.co.uk
MORE RESOURCES:
'Blow the whistle': Indiana's top election official spends $35k on security guide mailings • Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Capital Chronicle Canada security intelligence chief warns China can use TikTok to spy on users, CBC reports Reuters Canada House Passes Israel Security Assistance Support Act | House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans House Appropriations Violence in New Caledonia subsides slightly as France sends reinforcements for security The Associated Press Israel Resists Grand Bargain as U.S. and Saudis Work on Security Pact The New York Times International Community Meets to Discuss the Future of Nuclear Security International Atomic Energy Agency U.S.-Ukraine Security Entanglement Risks Forever War The American Conservative Security Alert: Worldwide Caution - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Indonesia US Embassy and Consulates in Indonesia Sean 'Diddy' Combs Allegedly Paid $50K to Obtain Hotel Security Footage of Cassie Assault: Lawsuit PEOPLE Palo Alto Networks and IBM to Jointly Provide AI-powered Security Offerings; IBM to Deliver Security Consulting ... IBM Newsroom Now armed with AI, America's adversaries will try to influence election, security officials warn The Associated Press Women are worried about their financial security. That may affect the 2024 presidential election CNBC Nuclear security through the eyes of the Co-Presidents of ICONS 2024 International Atomic Energy Agency Security video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016 Washington Times Appropriators Lead Israel Security Assistance Support Act | House Committee on Appropriations - Republicans House Appropriations IBM Selling Cloud Security Software to Palo Alto Networks in Broader Cyber Strategy Shift The Wall Street Journal Security Council Secretary: ‘Not an Inch of Armenian Land Ceded to Azerbaijan’ Armenian News by MassisPost Security footage calls into question Anchorage police account of fatal shooting Alaska Public Media News TikTok is a threat to Canadians' data security, CSIS chief warns Bennington Banner Canada Releases Defense Policy Update to Boost Security Department of Defense NATO and Economic Security: A Political Oxymoron or Inevitability? CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies Identity Management and Information Security News for the Week of May 17; Exabeam, Saviynt, VAST Data, and More Solutions Review Amazon security guard tries to kill unsuspecting boss before he's shot dead in gunfight with police: 'He almost executed me' New York Post EXCLUSIVE: Two students uncover security bug that could let millions do their laundry for free TechCrunch New Survey Finds a Paradox of Confidence in Software Supply Chain Security Security Boulevard Putin has ditched his paranoid security chief. Here are 5 of the wackiest things Nikolai Patrushev has said. POLITICO Europe Fox News Poll: Abortion, economy, and border security are top deal-breakers in 2024 elections Fox News Endpoint Security and Network Monitoring News for the Week of May 17; Alkira, Preamble, c/side, and More Solutions Review Diddy Seen Physically Assaulting Cassie in Never-Before-Seen 2016 Hotel Security Footage Entertainment Tonight See cops working security at Tacoma grocery stores? Here’s why and what policies allow Tacoma News Tribune OWASP dep-scan: Open-source security and risk audit tool Help Net Security Opinion | Is TikTok Chinese ownership a U.S. national security issue? Come on. - The Washington Post Opinion | Is TikTok Chinese ownership a U.S. national security issue? Come on. The Washington Post RSA Conference 2024: AI and the Future Of Security Security Boulevard UN sexual violence envoy pulls out of Security Council briefing on Hamas hostages The Times of Israel FCC proposes BGP security measures Network World The New U.S. Strategy on Global Health Security Think Global Health 7 months since Oct 7, UN Security Council holds first meeting entirely dedicated to Israeli hostages in Gaza All Israel News Multnomah County Signs $40 Million Contract for Armed and Unarmed Security at County Facilities, Including Public ... Willamette Week An inspector general warned the Justice Department of gaps in its security clearance appeals process Government Executive PKI-Based Passkeys Lead The Way For A Passwordless Future Security Boulevard Fintech giant Flutterwave loses ₦11 billion to security breach Business Insider Africa May 17: IDF fighter jet carries out rare strike on target in West Bank city of Jenin The Times of Israel Enabling Continuous Zero Trust in Multi-Cloud Environments with Netography Fusion Security Boulevard A Free, Prosperous, and Secure Future for Ukraine - United States Department of State Department of State Votiro Keeps Up the Momentum in 2024 Security Boulevard The situation concerning Iraq - Security Council, 9628th meeting Welcome to the United Nations 'Abnormal' security video, Google Drive led to Stephan Sterns' arrest in Madeline Soto case, documents show WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando Brothers Indicted for Stealing $25 Million of Ethereum in 12 Seconds Security Boulevard Cybersecurity Insights with Contrast CISO David Lindner | 5/17/24 Security Boulevard The Dell API Breach: It could have been prevented Security Boulevard JLOTS, an obscure Army-Navy capability, arrives in Gaza NavyTimes.com Making Safety and Security Intrinsic to School Design Campus Security Today Yemeni security forces deploy in Aden as anger simmers over lengthy power outages The Associated Press Response to CISA Advisory (AA24-131A): #StopRansomware: Black Basta Security Boulevard U.S. Security Cooperation with Ukraine - United States Department of State Department of State America's Envoy to the United Nations Gets 'Honest' With Security Council About the Fate of Hamas's Hostages The New York Sun USENIX Security ’23 – AEX-Notify: Thwarting Precise Single-Stepping Attacks Through Interrupt Aware... Security Boulevard |
RELATED ARTICLES
Delete Cookies: New-Age Diet or Common Sense Internet Security? No, this article isn't about some new, lose-20-pounds-in-a-week, certified-by-some-tan-Southern-California-doctor diet. It's about cookies on your computer - what they are, why they are there, and what to do about them. The Importance of Protecting Your PC from Viruses and Spam Today the internet is a mine field of malicious code looking to harm your computer. Hackers want to have access to your PC for both fun and profit. Viruses and Worms: The Problems and Their Solutions History and BackgroundThe virus was one of the first ever threats to computer security. It brought a whole new fear upon computer users. The Risk Of Electronic Fraud & Identity Theft Electronic Fraud and Identity Theft-----------------------------------Human beings are pretty sensible when presented with an imminent threat or risk. That is, if it's staring us directly in the face. Technology and Techniques Used in Industrial Espionage Industrial Espionage. These methodologies are being used on a daily basis by competitors maybe even against you. Protecting Your Children On The Internet If you are a parent, as am I, I think we can agree there is little else more important than keeping our children safe and protected. It's difficult enough keeping them safe from the unscrupulous people we read about in the news, but dealing with children and the Internet takes it to a completely new level. Phishing: A Scary Way of Life The Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified "phishing" as the "hottest and most troubling new scam on the Internet."What is Phishing?Phishing is a scam initiated via e-mail. Breaking Into Your PC: News... You'd better learn news from media, not from emails, security experts warn us users again.Numerous emails with "breaking news" in subject lines are appearing in users' inboxes. 5 Tips For An Unbreakable Password Despite the current wave of identity theft and corporate security breaches it's amazing how very few people treat their passwords with any level of seriousness. Most computers users, both at home and in the office, see passwords as a nuisance and therefore make them as easy to remember as possible. Road Warrior At Risk: The Dangers Of Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking Airport Menace: The Wireless Peeping Tom----------------------------------------As a network security consultant, I travel quite frequently. At times, it seems like the airport is my second home. Dont Allow Hackers to Take Out Money from Your Bank Account If you know what is the 'Fishing' then it's very easyto understand the definition of 'Phishing'. Justreplace letter 'F' from the word Fishing with 'Ph'. How To Cover Your Tracks On The Internet Every single time you access a website, you leave tracks. Tracks that others can access. How to Fight Spyware If you are wondering how to fight spyware for safe web surfing, this Internet privacy article will answer some of your questions. By now you have probably heard about the dangers of spyware. Internet Identity Theft - How You Can Shield Yourself With the advent of the World Wide Web, a whole new breed of criminals have surfaced, posing threats to more than just our material assets, but also to our very identities. Although there are a number of effective methods for protecting yourself from internet identity theft, not everyone takes the necessary steps to initiate such a plan. Phishing Recently I have received email from my bank/credit Card Company, eBay & pay pal saying that my account has possibly been compromised and I need to confirm my details and password in order to get continued access.Spam email now has a new and more frightening variant, it's called phishing and it has been made by criminals and hackers who aim at getting unwitting consumers to reveal account numbers and passwords. Information Security for E-businessmen: Just a Couple of Ideas If you constantly deal with bank or electronic accounts, it must beyour worst nightmare--to wake up and learn that you are a bankrupt.Some crook stole your personal data and all the money you have beensweating blood for years has flown to somebody else's account. How Did This Happen to Me? Top 10 Ways to Get Spyware or Viruses on Your Computer If you use the internet, you have probably been infected with a virus, trojan or spyware. According to the SANS Internet Storm Center, the average unprotected PC is infected within 20 minutes of normal internet usage. The 5 Critical Steps to Protecting Your Computer on the Internet Spyware, viruses and worms.. Spyware is Not Like a Nosy Neighbor Remember the television show about the nosy neighbor Mrs. Kravitzalways peeking out her window or over the fence, sometimes evenknocking on the door just to find out what was going on in herneighborhood? If you don't wait a month or so and the DVD orthe movie will be out. Spyware Removal Spyware SolutionProbably Today's Biggest Computer Problem.You Suffer Without Knowing Your PC is Infected!"The effects can be devastating. |
home | site map |
© 2006 |