Social Engineering Penetration Testing Services

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What is social engineering?

Social Engineering discovers unidentified business risks

Social engineering attacks encompass various activities intended to trick individuals into divulging personal or company information. Attackers deceive, influence, coerce or manipulate users to gain control of your computer systems. 99% of cyber attacks use social engineering to convince users to install malware. This malicious software is then used to infiltrate an organisation’s networks and servers.

Testing Vulnerabilities

Most Common Social Engineering Attacks

Phishing, Vishing & Smishing


Phishing is by far the most common type of social engineering tool, and over 90% of all data breaches result from phishing. Approximately one in 99 emails contain a phishing attack, and these emails readily make their way to commercial and business users.

This social engineering technique sends emails that masquerade as emails from legitimate entities to acquire information such as login and credit card details. Phishing emails are often cloaked as emails from online banks, social media sites, IT firms and auction sites.

Phishing is one of the most expensive cyberattacks that costs an average of $4.65 million to remediate.
Vishing is the use of phone calls to achieve the same result as phishing, while smishing uses SMS/text messages.

Spear phishing


This is a form of cyber social engineering very similar to phishing, except that the emails are targeted at specific individuals. Attackers research the receiver and know who this individual views as trusted email sources. They could even mimic the victim’s personal emails and trick them into clicking on malicious links or attachments.

Rogue security software


This is a recently popularised form of cyber security social engineering that uses malware such as rogue anti-spyware, anti-malware, scanners or scareware to deceive users. The hackers use rogue security software to mislead users into believing they can help them remove malware at a fee.

Pretexting


Pretext social engineering attacks involve an attacker impersonating someone in a powerful position. They could pretend to be company managers, auditors, members of the IRS or police officers. Since scammers demand information under the pretext of authority, victims are more likely to provide it.

Baiting


Baiting is a way of luring victims by offering them something or piquing their interest. An example is a free download using social media engineering or even a USB drive with a provocative label. Once you download the file or use the infected device, malware is installed on your computer, giving access to the hacker.

Quid Pro Quo


This is another one of the many methods of social engineering where a hacker pretends to be a member of IT support staff. They then call employees and claim they need to perform a system fix and need the employee to disable their antivirus software.

Hackers can also ask employees if they need technical assistance, and once an employee says they need help, they will be asked to provide personal user credentials. Employees who follow these instructions are likely to experience a malware attack.

Tailgating & Piggybacking


This is a physical aspect of social engineering where intruders gain access to office buildings or business locations. An attacker can tailgate an authorised user by following them into the premises without their knowledge.

Piggybacking is very similar to tailgating, except the authorised entrant knowingly lets the intruder into the premises. They could hold the door open for someone with a heavy load or an employee who forgets their access cards.

How to Prevent

How to Prevent Social Engineering Attacks

  • Don't open emails from unknown sources.
  • Do not rely on a single security measure to protect your organization.
  • Don't let offers or gifts from strangers lure you in.
  • Keep your laptop locked whenever you are away from your workstation.
  • Install antivirus software and keep the software updated.
  • Avoid listing employee email addresses on websites - use a web form instead.
  • Increase employee awareness of the risks of oversharing personal information online
  • Do not allow strangers or people without appointments into your office buildings.
  • Instill the mantra ‘think before you click’ in all employee activities and reduce the impact of human error.

Why do you need social engineering penetration tests?

Every single organization should conduct regular social engineering penetration tests

If you are responsible for the security of your systems, there are a few things you should consider.

  • Is there essential business information that is readily available to the public?
  • Are both technical and non-technical staff vulnerable to social engineering tactics?
  • Can someone have access to hardware that is removed from office premises?
  • Is it possible for a social engineer to access your offices?
  • Can an attacker use mislaid documentation to access your data?

Consequences

The results of a successful social engineering attack can devastate a business.

There is a high chance of loss of data and sensitive information. The attack can also compromise the integrity, meaning authorisation methods are insecure. Many victims of social engineering attacks also contend with ransomware demands that often result in financial losses or outright loss of company information.

Social engineering penetration test methodology

Mindfire CS Social Engineering Penetration Testing Process

Information gathering


This is the social engineering reconnaissance stage of social engineering pen testing. It requires our team to collect information about your organisation from public sources.

Scoping


This step is performed before conducting social engineering testing. We consult with your IT team to establish the assessment requirements and the scope of the social engineering penetration test

Testing


At this stage, Mindfire's social engineering penetration testing team attempts to breach your systems or office premises and collect sensitive information. Testing could involve using phishing services to send random phishing emails to employees and monitoring their different actions. A social engineering company will also attempt to enter business offices and obtain company data.

Reporting


Mindfire's social engineering pen testing team takes the reporting of test results as a crucial part of penetration testing. We prepare a full technical report for software engineers that sets out the goals of the test, the social engineering testing methodology and the vulnerabilities we identify. We also provide an executive report more appropriate for managerial teams and other employees that summarises our activities.

Debriefing


Because employees are the biggest deterrent from social engineering attacks, we recommend investing in regular social engineering training. Conduct workshops or awareness exercises to give employees the skills to identify and respond to cyber threats.

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Protect your business

If you are looking for reliable and efficient solutions to enhance your business operations, Mindfire is the perfect partner for you. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals. Whether you need Cyber Security Services, Managed Security Services (MSS), Consulting Services, Cyber Risk Management Services, Cloud Services, Digital Services, or Digital Transformation, our team of experts is here to assist you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us and take your business to the next level with Mindfire.