Social Engineering

Exploit Your Human Element

Social Engineering remains One of the Most Effective Hacking TECHNIQUES

Even the strongest cybersecurity defenses can be bypassed by exploiting the human element. Social engineering—manipulating individuals into revealing sensitive information or granting unauthorized access—has been the key to breaching some of the most secure operations in the world. These attacks often rely on simple but highly effective tactics, such as phishing emails, impersonation, or pretexting, to exploit trust and human error.

Highly Effective Hack

Cybercriminals exploit human psychology to breach even the most secure systems, manipulating employees into revealing sensitive information and granting unauthorized access.

Employees are Victims

Social engineers use emails, calls, and texts to trick employees into sharing credentials through convincing requests or fake websites. Shared passwords across accounts can grant attackers access to internal networks, emails, and systems.

Data is the Target

Social engineers aren’t after physical items—they’re targeting your internal network and sensitive data. From credit card numbers and proprietary business plans to identity theft, their goal is often unrestricted access via onsite devices or wireless connections.

Physical Security Assessments Show Real Results

Raxis Chief Penetration Testing Officer Brian Tant shows how badge scanners and hidden cameras help hackers get past your physical security.

Test the Human Element

Social engineering is a crucial aspect of a complete security penetration test.

Many of our clients are often shocked by how effortless it is for our team to obtain access. We utilize a variety of strategies that are specifically designed to persuade your team to provide us with access to your systems and data center.

Through these techniques, we are able to simulate real-world scenarios and identify any weaknesses or vulnerabilities in your security measures. Our detailed report will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of your security posture and help you justify the need for increased cybersecurity investments.

Even the Toughest Security Defenses Will Fall Victim

Social Engineering techniques often get our foot in the door to launch exploitation tools or plant a remote access device.

Physical Social Engineering

Our first step involves significant research on your organization’s line of business, communication style, and employee behaviors. We’ll learn as much as we can about your group to find the most effective style of attack, and we’ll also work directly with your security team to ensure we’re targeting the areas you need assessed. Our attack plans range from using branded clothing easily obtained from local sources to creating fake credentials. In many cases, we’ll use no tangible physical items and simply rely on our communication skills to establish credibility with the targeted staff members.

Phishing

Why Phish Your Own Team? Despite training and technical countermeasures, phishing continues to be a highly effective way to breach security defenses. Our team sends a convincing email to your organization in an attempt to gain user credentials and to measure the effectiveness of your security awareness program. From there we can use the credentials to attempt further system access or we can stop there. Either way your report gives you the details you need to train your team not to fall for a phish again.

Specialized Phishing

Other phishing techniques can be leveraged as well. Spear phishing uses highly targeted emails to gain information or access without triggering security countermeasures. In vishing, also known as voice or phone phishing, engagements, Raxis calls your team and attempts to convince them to give us access through passwords or other sensitive information. Smishing or SMS phishing is just another way that hackers attempt to gain information, and our team provides individual attacks as well as combined attacks including any of the above.

Follow Through: Finish the Hack

It’s not enough to just gain access. During Physical Social Engineering, our team attempts to clone employee badges to gain physical access to your buildings and even higher security areas such as data centers. Once in, we may install a device that allows us to prove we can access your internal systems remotely.

When performing Phishing, we attempt to gain access to company VPNs, email, or any other technology that we can leverage. This proof of concept is invaluable in justifying budgets or uncovering risks further inside the system.

Confidence is King

Raxis Hack Stories

Our stories are based on real events encountered by Raxis engineers; however, some details have been altered or omitted to protect our customers’ identities.

When our elite penetration testing team dives into physical social engineering, whether it’s a laser-focused PSE test or a full-throttle Red Team operation, confidence is our secret weapon. We’re often stunned at how many people accept that we belong simply because we act like we do. Even more jaw-dropping? The number of folks who spot something fishy but don’t raise the alarm. As our tests ramp up, we push the boundaries with bolder moves, daring employees to call us out. Spoiler: they rarely do.

On one assignment our team was tasked with infiltrating a sleek, big-city high-rise with a break room so stocked with free eats that employees practically lived there for breakfast and lunch. Our team did their homework, scoping out every detail before arriving onsite. On a bustling Monday morning, they slipped in one by one, tailgating through turnstiles and blending into crowded elevators before the guard could figure out what was happening. Each operative strolled onto the target floor, flashed a charming wave at the receptionist, and proceeded to regroup in that legendary break room. Then they split up to take a look around the floor. Unlocked workstations? Check. Sensitive customer documents left on a printer? Check. After gathering proof for the customer’s report, they glided out one by one, leaving no trace and not a single soul batted an eye.

In another operation, our team targeted an office secured by key card access. The plan? Pure audacity. They grabbed coffees from a local shop across the street and loitered by the parking lot entrance just before the 5pm rush. Sipping their coffee inconspicuously, our team chatted like they were waiting for a buddy to clock out. No aggressive moves, just casual vibes. Sure enough, several employees held the door for them. As the crowd thinned, they offered their thanks and slipped inside. For an hour, they laid low under a conference room table, biding their time before exploring. What did they find? A treasure trove of vulnerabilities: unlocked file cabinets stuffed with sensitive customer data, passwords scrawled on notes tucked under keyboards, a visitor badge stashed in a desk drawer, open network ports perfect for planting a network implant device (of course they did that), and even keys to the data center left in an unlocked cabinet. Our team made use of those keys to drop a second device for good measure. The cleaning crew? They just waved as our team worked. Hours later, our team sauntered out, armed with a visitor badge for a potential encore and leaving devices in place for further exfiltration.

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m sure that Raxis could gain access to our buildings. Should I wait for a physical social engineering test?

If you are installing new systems or performing new training now, then we recommend you complete those before beginning your PSE. Usually, however, there’s no time like the present. If you have known issues that you haven’t corrected, it may be a budget issue. If so, a Raxis PSE engagement can give you the proof your management team needs to see that the changes are a high priority. In addition, while you may be aware of general weaknesses, a Raxis PSE assessment can uncover hidden vulnerabilities and provide a comprehensive evaluation of your physical security posture.

I don’t want to upset management. Can I scope my social engineering test to exclude them?

As the customer, you control the scope of your social engineering assessments to target any subset of users you want to test. While it may be tempting to exclude management from a social engineering assessment, doing so could significantly undermine the effectiveness and validity of the assessment. The purpose of such tests is to evaluate an organization’s overall security posture, including that of its leadership. Management often has access to sensitive information and systems, making them prime targets for real-world social engineering attacks. By excluding them, you may miss critical vulnerabilities and create a false sense of security. Additionally, management’s participation can serve as a powerful example, demonstrating the importance of security awareness across all levels of the organization. Instead of excluding management, consider working closely with key stakeholders to communicate the test’s objectives, ensure buy-in, and establish clear boundaries and expectations. This approach can help alleviate concerns while maintaining the integrity and value of the social engineering assessment.

What if we fail the social engineering test?

We always recommend that our social engineering tests be used as training instead of as judgements. The employee who falls for a Raxis phish is often the least likely to fall for a malicious phish. Our social engineering engagements all provide clear reports of our attacks and how your team performed. When you use these reports as training tools and reward employees who report suspicious behavior and communications, your whole team becomes stronger.

What is a social engineering assessment, and who needs one?

A social engineering assessment is a simulated test that mimics actual threats, such as malicious email attachments and telephone pretexting. It helps organizations identify vulnerabilities and assess their level of readiness against social engineering attacks. Anyone concerned about their organization’s security should consider a social engineering assessment.

How does a social engineering assessment reduce risk?

By demonstrating how an actual attack would occur, cybersecurity experts can identify and seal vulnerabilities before they’re exploited. Employees who experience simulated social engineering attacks are more likely to take security recommendations seriously. This awareness training helps prioritize response efforts.

What peace of mind does a social engineering assessment provide?

Social engineering attacks evolve rapidly, taking advantage of the latest trends. An assessment constructs multiple scenarios and threat pretexts, customizing solutions for your organization. With this knowledge, employees can engage in online activities confidently, knowing they’re fully protected.

How does it contribute to a more comprehensive cybersecurity approach?

Social engineering assessments address vulnerabilities that are often overlooked in technical security strategies. By simulating real-world attack scenarios, they uncover weaknesses in physical security measures and employee awareness. They complement traditional cybersecurity measures by identifying human vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and internal systems. The insights gained from these assessments allow companies to develop targeted awareness training programs, refine their information security policies, and strengthen their overall defense against social engineering threats. Ultimately, integrating social engineering assessments into a broader cybersecurity strategy helps organizations create a multi-layered defense that addresses both technical and human aspects of security.

How does a social engineering assessment build confidence in an organization?

Performing social engineering assessments at least annually demonstrates a proactive commitment to cybersecurity and data protection. By identifying vulnerabilities and implementing recommended improvements, organizations show stakeholders that they take security seriously, fostering trust among clients, employees, suppliers, and investors. This is crucial for gaining the trust of clients, employees, suppliers, and stakeholders. For financial companies and those handling sensitive customer data, meeting regulatory requirements (such as FFIEC) is a crucial step in displaying dedication to protecting valuable data. By taking proactive measures to strengthen security, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding confidential information and fostering a secure environment for all involved parties.