No Tech Hacking: A Guide to Social Engineering, Dumpster Diving, and Shoulder Surfing

by Johnny Long

"As the cliché reminds us, information is power. In this age of computer systems and technology, an increasing majority of the world's information is stored electronically. It makes sense then that as an industry we rely on high-tech electronic protection systems to guard that information. As a professional hacker, I get paid to uncover weaknesses in those systems and exploit them. Whether breaking into buildings or slipping past industrial-grade firewalls, my goal has always been the extract the informational secrets using any means necessary. After hundreds of jobs, I discovered the secret to bypassing every conceivable high-tech security system. This book reveals those secrets, and as the title suggests, it has nothing to do with high technology. As it turns out, the secret isn't much of a secret at all. Hackers have known about these techniques for years. Presented in a light, accessible style, you'll get to ride shotgun with the authors on successful real-world break-ins as they share photos, videos and stories that prove how vulnerable the high-tech world is to no-tech attacks.As you browse this book, you'll hear old familiar terms like ""dumpster diving"", ""social engineering"", and ""shoulder surfing"". Some of these terms have drifted into obscurity to the point of becoming industry folklore; the tactics of the pre-dawn information age. But make no mistake; these and other old-school tactics work with amazing effectiveness today. In fact, there's a very good chance that someone in your organization will fall victim to one or more of these attacks this year. Will they be ready?. Dumpster DivingBe a good sport and don't read the two ""D"" words written in big bold letters above, and act surprised when I tell you hackers can accomplish this without relying on a single bit of technology (punny).. TailgatingHackers and ninja both like wearing black, and they do share the ability to slip inside a building and blend with the shadows.. Shoulder SurfingIf you like having a screen on your laptop so you can see what you're working on, don't read this chapter.. Physical SecurityLocks are serious business and lock technicians are true engineers, most backed with years of hands-on experience. But what happens when you take the age-old respected profession of the locksmith and sprinkle it with hacker ingenuity?. Social Engineering with Jack WilesJack has trained hundreds of federal agents, corporate attorneys, CEOs and internal auditors on computer crime and security-related topics. His unforgettable presentations are filled with three decades of personal ""war stories"" from the trenches of Information Security and Physical Security.. Google HackingA hacker doesn't even need his own computer to do the necessary research. If he can make it to a public library, Kinko's or Internet cafe, he can use Google to process all that data into something useful.. P2P HackingLet's assume a guy has no budget, no commercial hacking software, no support from organized crime and no fancy gear. With all those restrictions, is this guy still a threat to you? Have a look at this chapter and judge for yourself.. People WatchingSkilled people watchers can learn a whole lot in just a few quick glances. In this chapter we'll take a look at a few examples of the types of things that draws a no-tech hacker's eye.. KiosksWhat happens when a kiosk is more than a kiosk? What happens when the kiosk holds airline passenger information? What if the kiosk holds confidential patient information? What if the kiosk holds cash?.

Genres: Hackers, Computer Science, Nonfiction, Technology, Psychology, Textbooks, Technical

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 21, 2007

About the author

Johnny Long is a Christian by grace, a professional hacker by trade, a pirate by blood, a ninja in training, a security researcher and author. He can be found lurking at his website (http://johnny.ihackstuff.com). He is the founder of Hackers For Charity(http://ihackcharities.org), an organization that provides hackers with job experience while leveraging their skills for charities that need those skills.

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I already wrote my review, but just in case . . .

A few takeaways:

1) there are many padlocks can be opened without bolt cutters
2) keep a low profile - I removed my business card that I had taped on my laptop, and from my bags;
3) shoulder-surfing 101 - just be more observant as to what's going on around you;
4) have fun with this book - it's a quick read and gets you to thinking about simple security.

There's more, just take a look at the sample chapter on Amazon.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good idea for a book. Not so great in execution. Almost looks like one of those books for 'Dummies'. The largest chapter, on Google Hacking, is ripped directly from another book by the same author and is little more than grainy, hard to read, black and white photos. I rate it an....... Eh.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good introduction to social engineering and physical penetration testing. The mix of stories as good examples and then a list of practical steps to be more resilient to social engineering attacks was good.

[TL Kett · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot to learn from this book, and the fact it's mostly pictures makes it very easy to get through. I personally feel the formatting and presentation leave something to be desired, but this is definitely a good read for information security professionals and those who are conscious about their own security.

[Stéphanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guaranteed to make you somewhat paranoid, still cool. Loved what the guy could accomplish with one camera -- the pictures were very enlightening. The no-tech chapters are full of seemingly obvious information I'd have ignored if the photos weren't there to prove we can all be a tad stupid when it comes to digital security. Just reading this made me look at my desktop with another set of eyes.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this one should be on everyone's must read list. In fact, I would recommend re-reading it at least once a year until you memorize it. Some of the technical stuff is dated, but the principles and lessons are timeless. Follow up by watching the YouTube video of Johnny giving this presentation. Seriously, do it.