How to Easily Attract Stalkers, Hackers, and Thieves in the Off Topic Forum

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Warning: Your friendliness is putting your business at risk!

In the security world, there is a security issue called "Social Engineering". This is where someone basically bluffs their way into restricted areas, gaining passwords, or other things by BSing their way through.

If you've ever seen a movie where a non Doctor pretended to be a doctor - it's the same kind of thing but not funny.

How is this a problem for your business?

An example may help. Think about what you go through if you lost your password and had to talk to tech support. Or you need to cash a check but you forgot your ID. Or you forgot to bring your wallet with your ID as you pick up your kids. Or there is an extra charge on your credit card but you can't get into your computer for your proof you didn't make it.

In most of those scenarios, the first and sometimes second line of defense is for the representative to say "NO, this is the rule". But there is almost always a supervisor willing to listen to a sob story in exceptional situations.

How does a supervisor handle things? They have a job perk called "responsibility to make decisions that may not fit the handbook based on their good judgment". In other words you forgot your password, ID, drivers license, etc. so they will ask you various questions to "get a feel" as to whether you are legit, can be trusted, and whether the initial ruling should be done away with.

Many times those initial rules are overturned based on this feeling, this conversation, etc.

Now what does this have to do with anything?

In the OT section, with a quick perusal I know about:
  • What your favorite movie is
  • Where you went or where you want to go on vacation this year
  • Your pet's name
  • Which love songs make you cry or get you going
  • How long your lease is and how much it's for
  • When you exercise and what you do when you exercise
  • Your favorite food
  • Your first kiss
  • Whether you drink or smoke
  • What languages you speak
  • And in some cases the names of family members
Granted not everyone shares this type of stuff and many people are careful especially with names and identifying details but many others don't realize this could be a problem.

Just imagine with me for a minute (won't give examples) what someone could do with your signature link which leads to somewhere that probably has identifying information (such as a Whois record) PLUS information you freely posted online PLUS the power of Social Engineering (BSing their way through a conversation as they try to gain access to your passwords, bank account, chilldren, or other important things). The results could be devastating.

What does this have to do with talking about making money? It's about the fact that by talking so freely you may lose the money you did make.

I don't want to throw water on the party. It's just a thought that many apparently have never thought of before.

Hope that helps someone.
Mark
#attract #easily #forum #hackers #stalkers #thieves #topic
  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    Good points. One and all.
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    Bill Platt, Oklahoma USA, PlattPublishing.com
    Publish Coloring Books for Profit (WSOTD 7-30-2015)
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    Those are good points, Mark. Not much left to be said, except maybe one thing. Besides using the knowledge gained to gain the trust of a gatekeeper, they could also use that knowledge to quickly befriend you by pretending to have so much in common with you. I've seen that happen in the dirt world before. A couple friends of mine were taken for a couple thousand bucks when the scumbag stole from them - and one of my friends was a deputy sherriff, so it's not like you have to be a real rube to fall for their phony friendship. It could happen online as well.
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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