Guides
- How to Get Over a Breakup?
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- 5 Steps to Remove Personal Information from Google
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What is a Wellness Check?
- How To Get a Temporary Restraining Order?
- What Is Smishing Attack & How to Avoid It?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- Common Venmo Scams to Look Out For and How to Avoid Them
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record?
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- A Guide to Different Types of Bankruptcies
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- 8 Tips to Help You Find Family Members
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Is A Packet Sniffing Attack
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: A Complete Guide
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- How to Deal with an Outstanding Warrant
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How To Read VIN Number
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- License Plates Types: USA Guide
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Petty Theft: Definition and Consequences
- What is a Life Sentence?
- How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant?
- Marriage License vs Certificate: Everything You Need to Know
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- Filing a false police report
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- How to Find Someone's Location Using Their Cell Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Call?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- How to Find a Missing Person?
- How to Send Money to a Federal Inmate?
- DUI vs DWI: What're The Differences
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find out Where Someone Lives?
- What Happens If You Get Caught Driving a Car Without Interlock
- Situational Crime Prevention: Theory, Techniques and Examples
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
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- Neighborhood Watch Program
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- Crime Mapping
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- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
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- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
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- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Vehicle Using Reverse Lookup Tools
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
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- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Sex Offender Search
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- What are the Traits of a Sociopath?
- Do You Know Who Your Neighbors Are?
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- Do You Know What's the Difference Between Jail and Prison?
- Homeowner's Insurance Coverage & Common Claims
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
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- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
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- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
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- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
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- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
The potential of cyberattacks is quite real in today's interconnected society where personal information is becoming more exposed to digitization. Pretexting has become a powerful tool among the many methods used by hackers. Pretexting is the practice of using social engineering to trick someone into disclosing private information. We will explore the concept of pretexting, look at popular pretexting assault methods, and talk about viable defenses.
What is Pretexting?
Pretexting is a type of social engineering in which a perpetrator takes a fake identity or position to influence people into disclosing sensitive information. This then begs the question, what is pretexting in cyber security? The cyberattacker earns the trust of their victims by fabricating a plausible pretext or situation, leading them to unwittingly divulge personal information like passwords, financial information, or business secrets that can be used for various cybercrimes.
Commonly Used Pretexting Attack Techniques
Impersonation
This method entails fooling victims into thinking you are a reliable person or representative. Attackers may assume the identities of technical support staff, customer service representatives, or even corporate officials in order to get sensitive data. For instance, they could get in touch with people while posing as bank representatives and ask for account information, passwords, or social security numbers.
Tailgating
By following closely behind an authorized person, the attacker is able to acquire unrestricted physical entry to a secured area. The attacker breaches security by taking advantage of people's natural propensity to hold doors open for others, perhaps gaining access to sensitive data. In firms with lax security procedures or limited employee knowledge, tailgating can be very effective.
Piggybacking
Similar to tailgating, piggybacking is gaining someone's permission to enter a prohibited area by taking advantage of their trust or goodwill. In order to get the victim to cooperate or follow rules, the attacker may pose as an employee or delivery person. This method may be used to infiltrate workplaces, data centers, or other restricted areas where priceless information is kept.
Baiting
Baiting is a hybrid of physical and digital approaches that entices victims to provide their credentials or personal information in return for an alluring offer, such as a free download. Attackers frequently disseminate harmful software and obtain sensitive data through USB devices or websites that have been hacked. They could, for instance, put infected USB sticks in public areas in the hopes that interested people will plug them into their devices, unwittingly installing malware.
Phishing and Vishing
Phishing scams use fake emails or websites that seem like actual businesses to deceive consumers into disclosing their personal information. On the other side, vishing involves voice communication and involves attackers pretending to be reputable organizations like banks or government institutions in order to get sensitive information over the phone. These methods rely on psychological trickery and a false feeling of urgency to get victims to provide their money or personal information.
Scareware
By displaying fictitious security alerts or cautions that their devices are infected with malware, scareware preys on people's anxieties. Then, in the name of system security, victims are asked for personal information or asked to download dangerous software. Scareware frequently poses as trustworthy security software in order to deceive users into paying for services that are unneeded or even hazardous.
How Can You Prevent Pretexting?
While pretexting attacks can be sophisticated, several preventive measures can help safeguard personal and organizational information:
- Be vigilant and skeptical: Always be wary of demands for personal information that are not requested. Before disclosing sensitive information, be sure that people or organizations are legitimate. If in doubt, get in touch on your own using the company's contact details. Keep in mind that reputable businesses will never request sensitive information over the phone or by email unless the correct procedures are followed.
- Educate yourself and employees: To promote awareness of pretexting tactics and emphasize the need to protect personal information, hold frequent training sessions. Encourage staff to report suspicious activity and teach them to scrutinize requests for sensitive information. People may protect themselves from pretexting attacks by promoting a culture of cybersecurity awareness.
- Implement strong access controls: Establish rigorous guidelines for allowing people access to restricted places physically. To prevent illegal entrance, promote the use of keycards, biometrics, or other secure identification techniques. Organizations can reduce the danger of pretexting attacks, which rely on taking advantage of social norms and human trust, by restricting physical access to critical places.
- Utilize email and phone lookup services: Use trustworthy email lookup services or phone lookup tools to verify the validity of an email or phone call. These services give you information about the sender or caller's identity, which aids in your ability to recognize any pretexting attempts. You can prevent falling for impersonation or phishing scams by checking the reliability of communication channels.
- Keep software and systems up to date: To safeguard against known vulnerabilities, update operating systems, software programs, and security patches often. Attackers frequently use out-of-date software to get access without authorization or carry out destructive actions. The danger of pretexting attacks is decreased by implementing frequent updates to guarantee that your devices and systems have the most recent security upgrades.
- Enable multi-factor authentication: For sensitive accounts and systems, use multi-factor authentication (MFA). By demanding additional verification in addition to passwords, such as a special code given to a mobile device, MFA offers an extra layer of protection. Even if credentials are stolen, this helps prevent unauthorized access and makes it far more difficult for attackers to launch pretexting assaults.
- Use strong and unique passwords: Strong, complicated passwords should be used for all accounts. Do not include phrases or facts that may be easily guessed, such as birth dates. To stop a single breach from compromising many accounts, it is essential to use different passwords for each account. To securely store and create complicated passwords, think about utilizing password managers.
- Regularly review privacy settings: On social networking sites and other online accounts, check and modify the privacy settings. Reduce the quantity of personal data that is accessible to the public or contacts who are not necessary. You can lessen the likelihood that attackers may obtain information that can be utilized in pretexting attacks by minimizing the visibility of personal data.
Keep Yourself Safe from Pretexting Through Education and Security
Pretexting is a deceptive trick used by cybercriminals to persuade people into disclosing sensitive information. Recognizing and thwarting these risks requires an understanding of the numerous pretexting attack strategies, including impersonation, tailgating, piggybacking, baiting, phishing, vishing, and scareware. Keep in mind that combating pretexting necessitates a mix of technology protections and human attentiveness. You can safeguard yourself, your company, and your sensitive information against the always changing hazards of pretexting by being educated, following basic cybersecurity hygiene, and cultivating a culture of alertness. Keep an eye out for threats, exercise caution, and give security first priority.