Cybercriminals are always on a lookout to steal unsuspected victim’s data, and for that, they keep on coming with advanced and creative techniques. In this blog, we will talk about one such frequently used nefarious method named as Online Identity spoofing attack, which is basically carried out by impersonating someone else identity. Pseudo scammers are known to impersonate someone known or famous to entrust the foundation of credibility and trust. To do this, they mainly change the header of an Internet Protocol address to make it exactly look like someone else’s IP address. If once the gullible victim’s IP address is being spoofed, then there are no chances of getting it back. Further, they will hack big websites using your IP address associated with illegal activities. Even denial-of-service attacks use IP spoofing to disguise the real identity of scammers. The primary intent of using this method is to gain access to networks that authenticate users based on IP addresses. Therefore, users and organizations should download privacy shield to safeguard their digital footprints in order to mitigate Identity spoofing attacks.
Except emails, spoofing can also be applied to phone calls, websites or to any technical source such as Domain Name System (DNS) Server, IP Address and Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). Spoofing technique lays an eye on unsuspected victim’s personal and sensitive information and also at the same time spreads malware through infected links or attachments. Bad actors try to gain unauthorized access in order to accomplish more advanced and on a larger scale cyber-attack such as man-in-the-middle attack and advanced persistent threat. Successfully implemented spoofing attacks leaves the organization in despair as it mainly leads to data breaches, incurs a substantial loss of revenue and badly infects computer systems. Biggest of all effect is on credibility and goodwill of the organization in the eyes of the public. It also overwhelms internet networks and often directs customer and clients to malicious sites in order to steal information and distribute malevolent malware.Spoofing can be applied to several communication methods, and it uses various technical knowledge to accomplish nefarious goals. Even Spoofing can be used to carry out phishing attacks which are basically scams to extract personal and sensitive data from organizations and individuals.
Types of Identity Spoofing
Email Spoofing: It takes place when an attacker uses an email message to trap a recipient into believing that it came from a known or trusted source. These pesky emails include links to malicious websites and attachments infected with malware. They use social engineering techniques to persuade the recipient to disclose their sensitive information without any strain.
Caller ID Spoofing: With this technique, attackers make it show as if the call is coming from the known and trusted number and also changes the geographic location to one in which victim resides in. Also, attackers use social engineering technique to make it show as if the call is coming from bank or customer support. Once the victim gets convinced, they ask for unsuspected victim’s sensitive information such as account information, passwords, and social security numbers.
Website Spoofing: Website spoofing technique is used when a website is designed to impersonate as an existing site which is famous and known to the user. Attackers mainly use such sites to gain and extract login and other personal data from others.
DNS Server Spoofing: This spoofing technique help fraudsters to divert traffic to altogether different IP addresses.
IP Spoofing: Attackers uses this technique to conceal their identity and impersonate to be another computer system. The main purpose is to gain access to multiple networks that authenticate users based on IP addresses. They mainly use IP spoofing in denial-of -service to overwhelm the victim with excessive traffic.
ARP Spoofing: This technique is used to steal or modify data and can also be used in denial-of-services. Also, it can be used in man-in-the-middle attacks or in session hijacking. Basically, an attacker’s link MAC to a legitimate network IP address in this method.
How to Protect Yourself from Spoofing Attacks
Avoid Trust Relationships: Never trust blindly on anyone in an era of 21stcentury where dark web exists. Look everything with suspicious eyebecause if you do so, no one can ever con you. Once the trust is built, scammers can easily run spoofing attacks because trust relationships tend to use IP addresses for authentication.
Use Cryptographic network protocols: Cryptographic network protocols secure communications which helps in spoofing attack prevention and highly encrypts data before it is sent and authenticates data when it is received.
Use spoofing detection software: One should download privacy shield to detect the tracking, which will help them competently save from Spoofing.
Spot Common tell-tale signs: The most pivotal way is to be cautious and keep an incessant eye on the signs of a spoof, whether it is being vigilant towards email, phone or web.
- Always check spelling mistakes,
inconsistent grammar, errors and unusual sentence structure in an email.
- Remember to check the email
address; if it is spoofed, then you would spot the changes in one or two
letters in either domain name or local-part.
- Also similarly check the URL of a
webpage which is mainly similar to an email address, the spelling used in
an URL can be slightly changed to trick the user.
- Never click on unsolicited links
or never download unfamiliar attachments, there are chances that malware
can be embedded in it. If you find something suspicious, then reply for
confirmation because the reply-email will go to the real owner of the
email address, not to the scammer who is spooking it.
· Be mindful and don’t take phone calls and also be vigilant of the caller who is asking for you to share your bank details or personal information.
Sometimes
spoofing is easy to spot, but in most of the scenarios when scammers have
started carrying out sophisticated attacks, it becomes difficult to catch it
red handed. Therefore, we would suggest you to download privacy shield software, through its incessant 24x7 vigilance
it will proactively help in safeguarding your digital tracks, personal and
sensitive information.
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