In the world of cyberattacks, social engineering is one of the most insidious tactics used by cybercriminals. This method relies on manipulating human behavior to gain access to sensitive information or systems, making it far more than just a technical challenge. While coding and malware are often the focus of cyberattacks, 98% of attacks are rooted in the psychological manipulation of individuals—this is where social engineering comes into play.
Social engineering exploits basic human instincts like trust, curiosity, and greed. Cybercriminals use these traits to trick people into unwittingly granting access to secure systems or disclosing confidential information. Even the most sophisticated coding can’t succeed if an attacker can’t first manipulate a human target into opening the door.
Why Employees Are the Weak Link
Employees are often seen as the greatest cybersecurity risk. Despite the growing emphasis on cybersecurity training, most programs focus on common threats like phishing. While phishing remains a serious issue, social engineering techniques extend beyond these methods and are increasingly targeting hardware-based vulnerabilities. Recognizing and defending against these lesser-known social engineering tactics is crucial for safeguarding your organization’s network.
Social Engineering of Cyberattacks: The Hidden Dangers of Rogue Devices
If It Walks Like a Duck… It Might Not Be a Duck!
One of the most deceptive forms of social engineering is the use of rogue devices, hardware attack tools designed to appear legitimate. These devices often mimic everyday office items like USB chargers, keyboards, or mice. They are specifically crafted to evade suspicion, providing cybercriminals with an easy way to launch attacks without detection.
For example, a Ninja Cable (a USB cable used for “juice jacking”) may look like an innocent charger, but it is capable of stealing data and injecting malware. Similarly, a Raspberry Pi embedded inside a keyboard could give attackers access to systems with minimal risk of detection. When devices that seem benign are actually hidden attack tools, the threat becomes far more dangerous.
How Social Engineering Facilitates Hardware-Based Attacks
Hardware-based attacks require physical access, and social engineering techniques are often used to gain this access. Whether through coercion or manipulation, attackers trick employees into providing access to the organization’s premises or hardware.
Some social engineering tactics are overt, like bribery, while others are covert, subtly exploiting human nature. A common covert tactic involves disguises, such as posing as a cleaning crew or a forgotten colleague to gain entry to secure areas. These techniques are surprisingly effective in large organizations where employees may not question unfamiliar faces.
Once inside, attackers can deploy Rogue Devices to launch attacks that evade traditional security systems. By exploiting a trusted human interaction, cybercriminals can bypass even the most sophisticated network defenses.
Exploiting Remote Access Through Social Engineering
On the other hand, attackers don’t even need to go as far as entering a target’s premises. Perpetrators can gain access to the organization through remote entry points. The rise in BYOD and WFH trends has expanded the attack surface significantly and made it more accessible. Today, attackers can manipulate employees into using Rogue Devices without going anywhere near the office.
Home-office devices like keyboards and mice sold on sites such as Amazon and AliExpress are a hit with remote workers due to the range of options and low prices. However, such products might be Rogue Devices in disguise that, once used, provide access to the target. But not only work-related products pose a threat; bad actors have found value in manipulating public charging kiosks. Our devices have access to and store so much data that we are constantly valuable targets.
Social engineering techniques can exploit human greed in the form of free giveaways. Greediness often trumps our cautionary instincts, and when we are presented with a free “iPhone charger” as part of a giveaway, it can be all too tempting to turn down (we really are a simple species). Greediness is sometimes all it takes to cause a cyber incident; instead of questioning the charger’s legitimacy, we simply accept the gift for what it appears to be. However, the gift must be worth it. In an attempt to exploit human greediness, an attacker offered a hospitality company with a $50 Best Buy gift card that could be accessed through a USB thumb drive. The recipient grew suspicious and did not fall for the attack, demonstrating either good instincts or good cybersecurity training – or both.
Preventing Rogue Devices and Social Engineering Attacks
Traditional security solutions, such as NAC (Network Access Control), EPS (Endpoint Protection Systems), and IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems), often fail to detect Rogue Devices because they lack Layer one visibility, the ability to identify physical devices on a network. This lack of visibility makes it essential to have a security solution that can detect, identify, and block Rogue Devices before they can infiltrate your network.
While training and awareness are important tools for preventing social engineering attacks, they are not foolproof. Employee negligence remains a significant factor in 62% of cyber incidents. Therefore, organizations need a comprehensive solution to complement human awareness.
The Solution: Sepio’s ARM Platform
To mitigate the risks associated with hardware-based social engineering attacks, Sepio’s Asset Risk Management (ARM) platform provides real-time visibility into your network’s physical layer. This allows your organization to detect and block Rogue Devices before they can cause harm.
With Layer 1 visibility and advanced detection capabilities, Sepio’s platform ensures that even the most covert hardware attacks are caught early, allowing organizations to defend against threats that traditional cybersecurity solutions miss.
