Social Engineering..........

[Gen0cid3]

Im gonna buy it tonight ^-^ it seems really good... i read the first few pages of it. and it was AWESUM. I suggest buying it.

[syntaxerr]

I read it awhile back, it was really insightful, if not a little redundant after awhile. It was very good as far as raising awareness to different types of methods and poses a great deal of things you can do to help protect your company (or anything for that matter) against a social engineer. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Gadsden]

Have anyone here read The Art Of Deception? I'm thinking of bying it.. Not that I ever will one of those great SE guys.. Is it a good book?

I have it.. it is a decent read. As said above, it is a bit redundant, but still worth reading.

[Gen0cid3]

Ive found a pretty interesting definition using Googles "define" function... just thought any interested passerby would like to read a short definition or... more of a small history. well, here it is:

Social Engineering:

Controlling and shaping people's attitudes and behavior by techniques of behaviorist psychology as developed by its founder, B. F. Skinner. Skinner believed that freedom is an illusion and that all living organisms, including people, are totally controlled by their environment. Skinner said that the ideal society would be one that is under complete dictation by a small group of psychologists who would condition people into believing they were free when they were actually being controlled by elitist central planners.

Enjoy..
Gen

[allentrace]

I have it.. it is a decent read. As said above, it is a bit redundant, but still worth reading.

What I still do not get is that people read books or watch something that states something and people take it as a revelation when all it is is common sense.

[ch0l0man]

Common Sense does that even exist anymore?

[ttickzz]

Common Sense does that even exist anymore?

Yes indeed, but it is not common.

And yes, art of deception is definitely worth reading, but it will not turn you into a genius in social engineering if this is your goal.

[dev_zero]

It would be a fine skill to master, but it's not my goal to be a master in social engineering.

[ndex]

its a "born with it, or born without it" kinda thing. but there are some talks at defcon that will put you "born without it" people on the right track, or tease you with the possibility of becoming great and powerfull...

I agree with this statement, most of all. Some people have SE skills, it's a God given gift that provides a means of survival for those of geek nature.

[MidnightViper]

Have anyone here read The Art Of Deception? I'm thinking of bying it.. Not that I ever will one of those great SE guys.. Is it a good book?

After reading that book, it completely changed the way I look at life. And no, not in a religious manner. It really opened my mind to a lot of things that are happening and could be happening in the world. It's a definite must read for anyone interested in any aspect of technology or business.

[Kenderkin17]

I'm just curious if anyone has any information on how to get into the field. Not of social engineering persay, but the consulting portion of it. I've always had a sort of knack for human interaction, and my ability to think on my feet is one I actually own up to having. So does anyone know anything about the field, like certs or degree's needed for it? I know I'll get at least one google search link, and I'll go ahead and tell you I have some information from google, I just wanted to see if any of you have any personal dealings in the aforementioned area. Thanks.

~Patrick.

[MidnightViper]

I'm not understanding what you want to do. You want to be a social engineering consultant, kinda like what Kevin Mitnick is? He started Defensive Thinking, I'm sure you know... so that answers that question. As far as jobs in Social Engineering goes... there's really not any.

[Kenderkin17]

Yes, basically just do what mitnick does. When I say jobs in the field I was talking about consutling companies on their weaknesses towards social engineering. I've read abit about individuals who do this. I was more asking to see if there was anything specific I needed to study other than just natural ability to get into that area of work. For instance I make a study of human nature, for fun though, but would I actually need to get a degree saying that I understand it before say corperate America took me seriously? Or would it be better just to show them? Like sit a CEO down and explain my case, then show what can happen.

[erehwon]

http://www.attrition.org/pipermail/i...ry/001078.html

[...]

Over the years, plain Michael Hammond, Edward is his middle name, has
duped a succession of supposedly intelligent people and organisations
with his tall tales. When he telephoned the Metropolitan Police to
tell them that he was a surgeon fighting his way through heavy London
traffic to save the life of a child, they gave him a motorcycle
escort.

Other roles he has taken include a film producer - a ruse that has got
him into numerous parties, gossip columns and the beds of aspiring
actresses - and a "renowned" polo expert. Senior police officers are a
speciality and those performances have resulted in innumerable
innocent members of the public being searched on his orders, an Asian
family being taken into custody and several harmless pedestrians being
held at gunpoint near Downing Street.

[...]

Let that article be a lesson for those of you thinking about pulling one too many social engineering cons.

[ch0l0man]

He started Defensive Thinking

Defensive Thinking is no longer the new name is Mitnick Security Consulting, LLC.