What is Shoulder Surfing?
A shoulder surfing assault is a social engineering strategy in which the attacker merely peers over the target’s shoulder to obtain sensitive data. Simple examples include when someone enters their PIN into an ATM or their login and password for their social media account, Internet banking, etc. In addition to using sophisticated video cameras, binoculars, CCTV, and spy cameras to observe the target and collect their private information, a shoulder surfer may also be a single person. Social engineering is one of the hacking phases, if we look at them. The practice of using people as a tool to steal sensitive data is known as social engineering. Social engineering attacks fall into one of three categories:
Human-based
Mobile-based
Computer-based
The first kind, human-based exploitation, includes shoulder surfing attacks.
What Time and Place Does Shoulder Surfing Occur?
Shoulder surfing can occur at any time in a public area, but it typically occurs in ATMs, Super Market payment kiosks, petrol stations, or any other location where you use a laptop, phone, or other electronic device to input personal or confidential information. One shouldn’t assume they are safe just because there is no one behind them or shoulder surfing warnings posted because cybercriminals frequently illegally hack into CCTV cameras installed in supermarkets, ATM kiosks, and public places in order to steal information. They do this by using highly sophisticated binoculars and miniature cameras.
They even use a potent parabolic microphone to listen in on conversations where secret material is being recited or discussed. This teaches us that shoulder surfing may be as simple as someone looking over your shoulder to grab information as it can be as complicated as cybercriminals utilizing cutting-edge technology to take sensitive and secret information. They even use a potent parabolic microphone to listen in on conversations where secret material is being recited or discussed. This teaches us that shoulder surfing can be as simple as someone looking over your shoulder to grab information or as complicated as cybercriminals utilizing cutting-edge technology to take private and sensitive information.
Why is it used to shoulder surf?
Shoulder surfing is typically used by attackers at little cost, no skills are required, no tracking is possible, and no equipment are used.
In addition to all the unlawful advantages, shoulder surfing is sometimes done ethically to assess the security posture of a corporate organization, typically during a Red Team engagement. Cybersecurity experts or ethical hackers who have some of the best ethical hacking certifications gained through some of the best online security courses are the ones who conduct shoulder surfing assaults. They are typically outside consultants who are recruited to assess the security posture of a business.
These consultants frequently engage in social engineering attacks, with one of the earliest ones including a shoulder surfing attack. They frequently pose as plumbers, maintenance workers, or IT support professionals. The NDA is signed, all necessary permissions are obtained, and the shoulder surfing in cyber security is done within the law for evaluation and occasionally even to satisfy various Corporate Compliance and Regulations obligations.
This offers us a good indication of how shoulder surfing is utilized to assess the security posture and cybersecurity knowledge of its personnel on the plus side. As was discussed in this article, shoulder surfing is used to commit identity theft, access accounts and systems without authorization, and steal sensitive information.
To assess the security measures in place to safeguard the data of a company, it is precisely recreated in the same way a hacker or hacking gang would do it in a controlled setting. The certificates listed below will instruct you on how to conduct tactics and attacks under control in order to assess the current defensive controls and suggest ways to strengthen them.
What Threats Do Shoulder Surfing Attacks Pose?
Depending on the degree of confidentiality of the information at risk, the seriousness of the hazards associated with shoulder surfing varies. Well, losing secrecy is a guaranteed danger. To give you an idea, the risk may include losing access to a bank account, credit card, professional email account, compromising access to a work laptop, etc. An APT group often targets an organization when engaging in hacking activity, whether the target is in the political, governmental, or private sectors. Often times, a customer of the software company is the target instead than the software company itself. Consequently, it may be said that the danger changes according to the attack’s purpose.
Often times, a customer of the software company is the target instead than the software company itself. Consequently, it may be said that the danger changes according to the attack’s purpose.
What Is a Shoulder Surfing Attack?
The attacker only needs to take up a position where he can see the victim’s phone, laptop, or POS screen while entering sensitive information; it is a fairly easy approach to execute. Frequently, the assailant simply observes the victim from behind while standing still.
Using binoculars to spy from a distance or recording tools like a camera or a parabolic microphone that can record voices over a great distance are examples of more advanced attacks. There are now more opportunities to use drones and UAVs to spy and record data thanks to access to cutting-edge technology.
What Effects Does Shoulder Surfing Have?
Identity theft is one of the main effects of a shoulder surfing attack. For instance, if a hacker sees your phone’s PIN and takes possession of it, they can access all of your social media accounts, payment apps, chat apps, and email accounts. From here, it is simple to obtain the OTP via SMS or email and take control of all the accounts.
The ability to sell your data on the Dark Web, including credit card information, social security numbers, PAN card information, and even Aadhar card information, is the next negative effect. Someone could use this information to conduct a crime in your name. One of the easiest things to do is to use any of these information to register a phone number in your name. When identification is compromised, recovering it is a very slow and difficult process.
How Can Shoulder Surfing Attacks Be Prevented?
As previously said, there are numerous causes for concern regarding shoulder surfing. Here are some precautions to take to avoid shoulder surfing and to defend yourself against attacks.
1. Switch on two-factor authentication.
Always use two-factor authentication, such as an OTP, mobile device authorization, or the Microsoft/Google authenticator apps.
2. Obtain a physical barrier or shield
Try to cover your body when typing a password or ATM PIN so that the person standing behind you cannot see it. If you must communicate an OTP or credit card information over the phone, be sure to leave the area and find a location where no one may overhear your chats.
3. Don’t use shared devices to log in.
Never access any of your accounts on a public computer, such as one found in an airport, railway station, library, or on a display unit in an electronics store. Information that is private can be taken.
4. Never utilize free WiFi.
It is suggested against logging into any personal accounts, such as those with social media, banks, and shopping websites, via open, unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. Particularly if the Wi-Fi connection is using the least secure protocol WEP, the traffic can always be observed.
Employ privacy shields or filters for computers and mobile devices with screens that can only be viewed from one angle.
6. Use unique passwords instead
They frequently make use of the same password across numerous accounts. By doing this, you run the danger of compromising more accounts. With every account, make an effort to use a distinct password.
7. Use different techniques
Use biometric authentications, such as fingerprint and facial recognition, wherever possible to sign in to laptops, smartphones, and applications.
Use password managers, please
By using password manager software, one can avoid creating passwords because the software generates and stores a long random string instead. One does not need to type a password when one is required because the password manager will log you in automatically. The password manager generates a long, random string and saves it, so one need not form a password. One does not need to type a password when one is required because the password manager will log you in automatically.
Shoulder surfing assault examples
On a crowded train or bus when other passengers can see the device screen and phone conversations can easily be heard. This is frequently the most frequent location when shoulder surfing is abused.
utilizing a POS in a grocery store to make purchases so that the person behind you can record the PIN you entered.
The most frequent risk occurs when users connect to insecure Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, and other public places to share sensitive data.
We have no-fly zones in many locations that house sensitive information, such as military bases, covert banking institutions, government buildings, and historical landmarks. The usage of drones and CCTV can also pose a serious concern for enabling a shoulder surfing attack.
while utilizing your cell phone to input an OTP or pay bills in public. most frequently when users type their credit card number while speaking it aloud.
Insider attackers also engage in shoulder surfing.
Conclusion
In this essay, we’ll talk about shoulder surfing, its impacts, and possible solutions. One of the simplest and most effective methods for stealing sensitive information during social engineering is shoulder surfing. Whether social engineering is ethical or not, it is a part of the hacking process. To thrive in this sector, advance knowledge, and advance one’s career, one can enroll in an online training course for ethical hacking. The Top Ethical Hacking Certification curriculum from KnowledgeHut offers an engaging, practical learning environment.