Top 10 Types of Spoofing Attacks

Spoofing is a type of cybercrime wherein the attackers pretend to be a trusted source, such as a trusted contact in order to access or steal sensitive data, whether personal or professional. Spoofing attacks are damaging not just because they threaten the privacy of your data but also because they can damage the reputation of the brand or person that the attackers impersonate, sometimes irrevocably.

Spoofing attacks can either be perpetrated through general tactics such as simply impersonating a trusted contact or more technical tactics such as DNS or IP address spoofing. To protect your business from spoofing attacks in Vermont, consider reaching out to IT Consulting Vermont. 

This is the most common type of spoofing attack where the victim is targeted using email communication. The sender looks like a trusted source with an email address that closely resembles the original address. Spoofed emails can be used to distribute anything from adware, ransomware, Trojans, cryptojackers, or malware. While most users have become discerning enough in their email usage to immediately detect a false email address, spoofed emails now increasingly make use of multiple deceptive strategies. These may include closely mimicking a known email domain or address that is only altered slightly. The emails may include trusted and familiar branding such as logos, iconography etc. More targeted spoofed emails can include familiar messaging or address that is addressed to a single individual or a small group.

This is also a highly prevalent form of spoofing attack usually used in tandem with spoofed emails containing links to the site. Website spoofing involves designing a fake website that closely resembles a trusted or even well-known website. Most spoofed websites will contain a login page wherein victims are prompted to enter their credentials or other sensitive information. Spoofing websites can also be used to distribute malware. Website spoofing can have grave consequences for the data privacy and integrity of any business. IT Support Vermont has extensive resources on how to combat website spoofing.

Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) is a set of rules that correlate IP addresses to each physical device. ARP spoofing involves mimicking this piece of data to bypass security protocols including antivirus software. ARP Spoofing enables malicious actors to link their computers to a legitimate user’s IP. If the user happens to be an employee of an organization, the malicious actors can gain entry into the network if they get hold of his/ her login credentials. The security mechanisms of the network will be unable to tell the difference as the connection appears legitimate.

Malicious actors can use vulnerabilities in hardware drivers to modify, or spoof, the MAC (Media Access Control) address. This enables the hacker to make his device appear as though it belongs to the target network bypassing all access restrictions. Essentially, MAC Spoofing enables malicious actors to pose as trusted users to perpetrate frauds like business email compromise (BEC), data compromise/ theft, or distribution of malware into the hitherto secure environment.

Used extensively for distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS), IP Spoofing can be a pernicious attack that prevents the removal of malicious traffic while hiding the attacker’s location. Since a device’s IP address is commonly used in security systems for the verification of a user’s location, malicious actors can leverage IP Spoofing to conceal their identity and avoid detection even by sophisticated security systems.

The domain name system (DNS) is designed to allow for an additional layer of security whenever visitors access your website. The DNS check assures users that the URL on display actually belongs to the website they want to visit. By introducing corrupt DNS information into a platform’s cache, malicious actors can hijack the name/URL of a website. DNS spoofing is commonly used in conjunction with other types of cyber attack.

Ever received a phone call that you thought was from a trusted source but turned out to be Spam? Caller ID Spoofing involves a similar tactic wherein the phone call appears to be from a trusted source. Once you answer the call, the attacker can use social engineering tactics, such as posing to be from the customer support team of your bank notifying you of a crisis. The agenda behind Caller ID Spoofing attacks generally involves eliciting sensitive information such as the user’s financial information like account information, credentials, Social Security numbers, etc.

Similar to Caller ID Spoofing, Text Message Spoofing involves the attackers sending an SMS through somebody else’s phone number or sender ID. Essentially, the malicious actor tries to hide their identity behind an alphanumeric sender ID. The sender appears to be from a trusted/ legitimate organization or firm. Text Message Spoofing is often referred to as mobile spoofing.

In this kind of attack, the malicious attacker can store a file as an executable file. To the untrained eye, this could look simply like a text file.

GPS Spoofing enables hackers to appear as if they are at a particular location when they are really somewhere else. This kind of attack is widely used by hackers to conceal their point of origin while they carry out more severe forms of cybercrime. This kind of attack and also be used to manipulate vehicles that operate through GPS input to send commuters to the wrong destinations.

At TGVT, we specialize in providing cybersecurity expertise for our clients. We guarantee 360-degree protection of your official communications. We provide a completely secure communications environment wherein your team members and clients have the much-needed peace of mind to know that their communications will always remain secure. To this end, we empower your business with robust anti-spoofing features. We can even help you keep track of any and all malicious attempts to use your numbers. If you are interested in knowing more, please get in touch with TGVT IT services experts today.