Phishing
Phishing and Smishing Attack Simulations Guide
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of how to safely conduct phishing and smishing (SMS phishing) simulations as part of a red teaming exercise to test and improve organizational security awareness and response capabilities.
Overview
Phishing and smishing simulations effectively train employees to recognize and respond to security threats via email or SMS. These simulations help identify potential vulnerabilities within communication channels and enhance the human element of security defenses.
Setting Up Canary Tokens
Canary tokens are a type of bait that triggers alerts when accessed. They can be used to detect breaches or unauthorized access within these simulations.
Steps to Create Canary Tokens:
Visit a Canary token generator website like canarytokens.org.
Choose the type of token (e.g., URL, email, or document).
Enter your email address to receive notifications.
Place the generated token in the phishing or smishing message.
Monitor the token to see if it is accessed, indicating that the message was opened and interacted with.
Creating Email Accounts for Simulation
Using dedicated email accounts for phishing simulations helps avoid legal issues and ensures the clarity of the exercise.
Steps to Create Email Accounts:
Use a service like Gmail or Outlook to create a new email account.
If necessary, Configure the email settings to mimic legitimate organizational email accounts.
Ensure these accounts are clearly labeled and understood as part of a controlled simulation.
Creating Virtual Numbers
Virtual numbers can be used for smishing simulations to send and receive SMS without using personal phone numbers.
Using Google Voice:
Sign up for Google Voice and select a phone number.
Configure the settings to allow SMS sending and receiving.
Use this number as the sender for smishing simulations.
Using Twilio’s APIs for Smishing Simulations
This section provides a detailed, step-by-step guide on using Twilio’s APIs to automate the sending of SMS messages for smishing simulations, suitable for both organizational and personal learning contexts.
Step 1: Create a Twilio Account
Sign Up: Visit Twilio’s website and sign up for an account.
Verify Your Email and Phone Number: Follow the prompts to verify your email address and phone number to activate your account.
Step 2: Set Up Your Twilio Project
Create a New Project: Once logged in, create a new project by selecting the appropriate template for sending SMS.
Note Your Project Credentials: Note your ‘Account SID’ and ‘Auth Token’, which you’ll need for authentication when using the API.
Step 3: Get a Twilio Phone Number
Purchase a Number: In your Twilio dashboard, navigate to the ‘Phone Numbers’ section and click ‘Buy a Number’. Choose a number that supports SMS and confirm the purchase.
Configure the Number: Set up your new number to send and receive SMS by following the prompts in the Twilio dashboard.
Step 4: Send SMS Messages Using Twilio’s API
Write the Script: Use the following Python script to send an SMS. Replace account_sid, auth_token, and the phone numbers with your actual details:
- Install Twilio Python Library: If you’re using Python, you can simplify the API interaction by installing Twilio’s library via pip:
from twilio.rest import Client
1. Your Account SID from twilio.com/console
account_sid = "your_account_sid"
1. Your Auth Token from twilio.com/console
auth_token = "your_auth_token"
1. Initialize the Twilio client
client = Client(account_sid, auth_token)
1. Prompt for the sender's phone number if not predefined
sender_number = input("Enter the Twilio phone number (sender): ") if 'sender_number' not in globals() else sender_number
1. Prompt for the recipient's phone number
recipient_number = input("Enter the recipient's phone number: ")
1. Prompt for the message body if not predefined
message_body = input("Enter the message to send: ") if 'message_body' not in globals() else message_body
1. Sending the SMS
message = client.messages.create(
to=recipient_number,
from_=sender_number,
body=message_body)
print(f"Message sent successfully! SID: {message.sid}")Constructing the Message: Best Practices
Effective phishing and smishing messages should mimic real-life scenarios that employees might encounter.
Best Practices:
Clarity and Relevance: Ensure the message is clear and relevant to the recipients' roles.
Urgency: Include a sense of urgency to mimic tactics used by actual attackers.
Call to Action: Embed a clear call to action, such as clicking on a link or downloading an attachment.
Visual Design: For phishing emails, use a professional design similar to legitimate corporate communications.
Countermeasures and Resources
Educating employees on recognizing and responding to phishing and smishing threats is critical. Here are some countermeasures: Incident Response
Regular Training: Conduct regular security awareness training sessions.
Simulation Exercises: Regularly schedule phishing and smishing simulation exercises.
Reporting Mechanisms: Ensure employees know how to report suspected phishing attempts.
Update and Patch Systems: Keep all systems updated to minimize vulnerabilities that can be exploited via malicious links and attachments.