This is how hackers hack you using simple social engineering

Summary

In a daring social experiment, the narrator invites elite hackers to expose their security flaws at DEF CON, the world's largest hacker convention. Demonstrating the power of social engineering, one hacker, posing as the narrator's wife, successfully manipulates a phone provider's customer service to gain access to the narrator's personal email and change the account password, all within a phone call. This highlights the vulnerability of personal information and the importance of robust security measures.

Takeaways

• 😲 The speaker invited hackers to identify their vulnerabilities.
• 🌐 The meeting takes place at DEF CON, the largest hacker convention.
• 💡 Social engineering is highlighted as a hacking technique that doesn't require coding.
• 📞 Phishing is described as a method of extracting information over the phone.
• 👶 A simulated scenario involves calling a cell phone provider under the guise of a distressed customer.
• 🔑 The hacker, posing as the speaker's wife, successfully gains access to the speaker's email address.
• 🆘 The hacker uses a ruse involving a crying baby and a need to access the account for a loan application.
• 📱 The cell phone provider's representative is convinced to provide personal information without verification.
• 🚫 The hacker then locks the speaker out of their own account by changing the password.
• 📝 The script serves as a cautionary tale about the ease with which social engineering can compromise personal security.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of inviting hackers to hack the narrator?

The main purpose is to identify vulnerabilities in the narrator's security through the expertise of skilled hackers.

Where is the meeting with the hackers taking place?

The meeting is taking place in Las Vegas during DEF CON, the biggest hacker convention of the year.

What method of hacking does the script mention that does not involve coding?

The script mentions social engineering as a method of hacking that does not involve coding.

What is phishing as described in the script?

Phishing, as described in the script, is voice solicitation where information or data points are extracted using the phone for potential use in a later attack.

Who does the hacker pretend to be when calling the cell phone provider?

The hacker pretends to be the narrator's wife, using a crying baby in the background to create a sense of urgency.

What personal information does the hacker attempt to obtain from the cell phone provider?

The hacker attempts to obtain the narrator's email address associated with their cell phone account.

How does the hacker convince the cell phone provider's representative to help her?

The hacker convinces the representative by creating a sense of urgency and distress, pretending to be the narrator's wife who needs access to the account for a loan application.

What security measure does the cell phone provider initially have in place to protect account access?

The cell phone provider requires a secure pin to be sent via text message for account access.

How does the hacker circumvent the security measure of receiving a secure pin via text message?

The hacker claims she cannot receive a text message while on the phone and uses a fake social security number to set up her own personal access to the account.

What is the final outcome of the hacker's interaction with the cell phone provider?

The hacker successfully gains access to the narrator's cell phone account and changes the password, effectively locking the narrator out.

What lesson does the script imply about the importance of security measures?

The script implies that even simple social engineering tactics can be effective in bypassing security measures, emphasizing the need for robust and multi-layered security protocols.