When browsing the Internet we can run into multiple threats that in one way or another can damage our security. Hackers use many attack techniques to achieve their goals. We speak, for example, of attacks to steal passwords, of strategies to collect data or infect our computers. In this article we are going to talk about what Baiting is , a very present problem. We will give advice to avoid being a victim.
What is Baiting
As we say, Baiting is one of the many threats on the web. It is a technique that hackers use to infect users and obtain information. It has many similarities with Phishing , as we will see.
The main objective of Baiting is to attract the victim , make him see that they are facing something legitimate and positive for them. Look for unsuspecting users who click and access a link. It is usually a very advantageous offer, something that causes that person to have the need to enter, to be informed, and in this way to deliver their data.
Usually it is an offer , a very cheap or interesting product, as we mentioned. But they can also play with fear, with immediacy. Make the user see that they need to click quickly to solve a problem, to get some kind of information.
It is very similar to Phishing because it also seeks to collect information from users. They can even capture data such as passwords, credentials, banking information …
They are mainly based on social engineering . They use techniques to deceive the victim. As we have indicated, they often play with time, fear, or the need to click to achieve something. They use baits that can be juicy for users, like a great offer, an interesting product that they can get for free …
Physical methods in Baiting attacks
But we are not only talking about web pages, about links that we see when browsing. They are not only virtual attacks or through the devices. They also use physical equipment, such as a USB stick .
It is something that is widespread in some countries. Hackers drop pen drives in places like libraries, universities, parks … And they simply wait for the victim to connect it to a computer so that the malware can run. They are infected USB memories, prepared to collect all kinds of data once it is connected to a computer.
Logically this is a major problem. When it comes to plugging in a memory of this type, we do not know how it can affect our security. We do not know what is behind it really. This could damage our security and privacy, as well as seriously affect the proper functioning of the equipment.
How to protect ourselves from Baiting
Luckily we can take into account certain tips with the sole objective of protecting ourselves from Baiting. It is very important not to make mistakes that compromise us and thus put our teams at risk.
Common sense
It is certainly the most important factor . We have seen that sometimes it is even USB memories that can infect our computers. We should never plug in a pendrive that we find on the street. It is likely a threat that puts security at risk.
Nor should we click and submit personal data on untrustworthy pages or links. It could be baits that simply seek our data, compromising security and damaging privacy.
Keeping equipment safe
Of course, having security tools is also going to be very important. There are many antivirus programs that we can use on our computers. In this way we can protect ourselves and prevent the entry of threats that put the reliability of the systems at risk.
This is something that we must apply to all types of operating systems and devices that we use. Luckily we have a wide range of options at our disposal.
Always have the latest versions
Another way to protect ourselves from Baiting is to always have the systems updated with the latest versions. There are many vulnerabilities that may be present. Through updates and patches we can correct these errors and prevent them from being exploited.
