Which of the following social engineering techniques are being attempted?

An employee receives a text message that appears to have been sent by the payroll department and is asking for credential verification.

Which of the following social engineering techniques are being attempted? (Choose two.)
A . Typosquatting
B . Phishing
C . Impersonation
D . Vishing
E . Smishing
F . Misinformation

View Answer

Answer: B E

Explanation:

Smishing is a type of social engineering technique that uses text messages (SMS) to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading malware. Smishing messages often appear to come from legitimate sources, such as banks, government agencies, or service providers, and use urgent or threatening language to persuade the recipients to take action12. In this scenario, the text message that claims to be from the payroll department is an example of smishing.

Impersonation is a type of social engineering technique that involves pretending to be someone else, such as an authority figure, a trusted person, or a colleague, to gain the trust or cooperation of the target. Impersonation can be done through various channels, such as phone calls, emails, text messages, or in-person visits, and can be used to obtain information, access, or money from the victim34. In this scenario, the text message that pretends to be from the payroll department is an example of impersonation.

A) Typosquatting is a type of cyberattack that involves registering domain names that are similar to popular or well-known websites, but with intentional spelling errors or different extensions. Typosquatting aims to exploit the common mistakes that users make when typing web addresses, and redirect them to malicious or fraudulent sites that may steal their information, install malware, or display ads56. Typosquatting is not related to text messages or credential verification.

B) Phishing is a type of social engineering technique that uses fraudulent emails to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information, clicking malicious links, or downloading malware. Phishing emails often mimic the appearance and tone of legitimate organizations, such as banks, retailers, or service providers, and use deceptive or urgent language to persuade the recipients to take action78. Phishing is not related to text messages or credential verification.

D) Vishing is a type of social engineering technique that uses voice calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or bank account details. Vishing calls

often appear to come from legitimate sources, such as law enforcement, government agencies, or technical support, and use scare tactics or false promises to persuade the recipients to comply9. Vishing is not related to text messages or credential verification.

F. Misinformation is a type of social engineering technique that involves spreading false or misleading information to influence the beliefs, opinions, or actions of the target. Misinformation can be used to manipulate public perception, create confusion, damage reputation, or promote an agenda. Misinformation is not related to text messages or credential verification.

Reference = 1: What is Smishing? | Definition and Examples | Kaspersky 2: Smishing – Wikipedia 3: Impersonation Attacks: What Are They and How Do You Protect Against Them? 4: Impersonation – Wikipedia 5: What is Typosquatting? | Definition and Examples | Kaspersky 6: Typosquatting – Wikipedia 7: What is Phishing? | Definition and Examples | Kaspersky 8: Phishing – Wikipedia 9: What is Vishing? | Definition and Examples | Kaspersky: Vishing – Wikipedia: What is Misinformation? | Definition and Examples | Britannica: Misinformation – Wikipedia