How do you conduct a vishing or smishing attack simulation?

Before conducting a vishing or smishing attack simulation, it's crucial to clearly define the scope and objectives of the test. This involves identifying the target audience, communication channels, attack scenarios, and success criteria. Obtain consent and authorization from clients and relevant third parties, like phone or SMS providers, and document everything in a detailed proposal. This proposal should outline risks, benefits, and limitations to ensure clarity and alignment with the goals of the simulation.

Achieving success in any phishing campaign requires a proactive approach, emphasizing training and prior warnings to users. This strategy aims to mitigate feelings of victimization or deception. When considering the number of campaigns needed, it's essential to recognize the unique risks faced by different departments. While Accounts may have robust processes for dealing with invoices, HR might handle CVs in diverse formats. Implementing a company-wide campaign, complemented by tailored ones for specific departments, ensures a more comprehensive evaluation. Obtaining authorization and ensuring that test emails reach users' inboxes are crucial steps.

Start by clearly defining the scope and objectives of your vishing or smishing simulation. Decide what you want to achieve—are you testing how well employees recognize these types of attacks, or are you evaluating the effectiveness of recent security training? Determine which departments or individuals will be targeted. This step is crucial because it guides the entire process, ensuring the simulation is relevant and aligned with your organization's specific needs. Keep your goals realistic and focused to get the most meaningful results.

Success in any phishing campaign hinges on providing training and prior warnings to users. This approach helps prevent feelings of victimisation or deception. Consider is the number of campaigns needed. Different departments face unique risks. For instance, Accounts frequently deals with invoices and typically has robust processes, whereas HR might handle CVs in various formats. Therefore, implementing a company-wide campaign along with tailored ones for specific departments can produce more comprehensive results. Another crucial aspect is obtaining authorisation and ensuring that the test emails actually reach the users' inboxes. The primary goal of these tests is to observe user responses, rather than to test the effectiveness of tools.

Leaked phone numbers of consumers, company or employee phone numbers, all of them you can perform Smishing or Vishing, using OSINT techniques that you can find on osintframework for example, you can obtain phone data

Using OSINT techniques and tools such as Maltegoce, Spiderfoot and even Google Hacking can be useful for this collection. Using OSINT techniques and tools such as Maltegoce, Spiderfoot and even Google Hacking can be useful for this collection. Another important thing is to search on social networks for profiles of employees you want to take the test and somehow extract their phone number.

If simply impersonating an internal employee, it is crucial to inject language that prompts feelings such as urgency, curiosity, obligation or authority into the message. Often phishing attacks are successful due to employee's acting impulsively. Ensure there are enough breadcrumbs for them to determine that this could be a phishing email. This will be vital when reporting. If taking a technical approach, such as a password reset. Analyse what services the client uses. Additionally, there are tools available to replicate a login page and a password reset email. Finally, like all security assessments, keep it ethical! Do not offer employees incentives like salary increases in phishing emails. This can substantially effect employee morale.

Research your target audience to gather information that will make your messages more convincing. Craft realistic phone scripts or text messages that mimic legitimate communication from trusted sources.

Research is everything. Attackers often focus on key players in an organization, aiming for accounts with higher privileges. In your simulations, mirror this strategy. Gather as much information as possible about your target, then leverage that data to social engineer service desks or the targets themselves. Tools like Google, LinkedIn, Cyberbackground, IntelTechniques, and Hunter.io are valuable OSINT resources for this approach.

Para realizar simulaciones de ataque de vishing o smishing, se pueden emplear diversas herramientas especializadas. Entre las opciones disponibles destacan el Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) y GoPhish para vishing, y Modlishka o herramientas de spoofing de SMS para smishing. Además, plataformas como Twilio o Nexmo permiten la automatización del envío de mensajes. Herramientas de monitoreo como Google Analytics o Piwik son útiles para seguir las respuestas y la interacción de los usuarios. Sin embargo, es crucial utilizar estas herramientas de manera ética, respetar las leyes locales, y obtener consentimiento formal de partes implicadas.

When considering the use of caller ID spoofing, it is important to understand the legal framework. The legality of this practice varies greatly from country to country. In some jurisdictions, caller ID spoofing is strictly regulated or outright prohibited due to its potential for abuse. Before conducting a smishing or vishing assessment using caller ID spoofing, be sure to comply with local laws and regulations to avoid legal repercussions.

Initiate the vishing or smishing attacks by making phone calls or sending text messages to the target audience. Monitor their responses to gauge their susceptibility to the phishing attempts.

It's essential to reconnect with the target audience after the vishing or smishing simulation. This involves candidly informing them of their involvement in the exercise and offering valuable education and advice on identifying and thwarting such attacks in the future. Utilizing diverse communication channels such as email, phone outreach, or interactive webinars enhances the effectiveness of this follow-up. Additionally, fostering an environment where the audience feels comfortable asking questions, sharing feedback, and promptly reporting any suspicious activities cultivates a culture of ongoing vigilance and proactive security awareness.

Depending on the responses received, follow up with the target audience to provide further instructions or gather additional information. This may involve escalating the simulation to a more advanced phishing scenario

Conduct a thorough analysis of the results from your vishing or smishing attack simulation to uncover any security awareness and resilience gaps among your target audience. Compare the actual outcomes with predetermined expectations and assess the audience's performance against defined success criteria. Look for patterns, trends, and anomalies in the collected data and feedback. Utilize this comprehensive analysis to identify both strengths and weaknesses within your target audience's security posture, highlighting areas requiring further improvement and attention.

After the simulation, analyze the responses and behavior of the target audience. Identify any weaknesses or gaps in their awareness and security practices, as well as areas where improvements can be made.

Un informe de una simulación de ataque de vishing o smishing incluiría un resumen ejecutivo con los objetivos y alcance, seguido de detalles sobre los escenarios y técnicas utilizadas. También proporcionaría datos clave sobre la efectividad de la prueba, incluyendo la tasa de respuesta y las acciones tomadas por los empleados. Estas pruebas están diseñadas para evaluar la conciencia de seguridad de los empleados y su capacidad para reconocer y resistir amenazas de ingeniería social. Sin embargo, el elemento sorpresa de estas pruebas y la revelación de que han sido sujetos de un ejercicio de seguridad pueden generar reacciones emocionales negativas.

Compile a report detailing the results of the vishing or smishing simulation, including any vulnerabilities or issues identified. Provide recommendations for enhancing security awareness and implementing measures to prevent future phishing attacks.

La tasa de éxito en simulaciones de ataques de vishing o smishing puede variar significativamente y está influenciada por diversos factores, como la conciencia de seguridad de los empleados, la calidad de la formación previa, la autenticidad de los escenarios, y la efectividad de las medidas de seguridad implementadas por la organización. En general, las organizaciones suelen utilizar estas simulaciones no solo para medir la cantidad de personas que "caen" en el ataque, sino también para evaluar la respuesta general de la organización frente a posibles amenazas de ingeniería social. El objetivo principal es mejorar la conciencia y preparación de los empleados, así como identificar áreas de mejora en políticas y procedimientos de seguridad.