From: Flory Jeffrey D Contr 59 MDSS/MSISI (Jeffrey.Flory2@LACKLAND.AF.MIL)
Date: Fri Mar 12 2004 - 07:55:55 EST
I have seen this both in the computer security world as well as in the
computer selling world. I am not a female, but my being in the computer
security business, and a former purchasing agent,I have had numerous
occasions when I have been approached by the good looking female that worked
in their contracts department and/or accounts department. I have also ran
across the opposite sex (Female) using their appeal trying to sway me to set
up accounts, purchase from their companies, etc. Since I did not bite on
their offers, they ceased to come back around. Also, in the computer
security business I have found that they will use their appeal to bypass
security.
Watching these types of individuals do their thing, and my biggest pet peev
is Social Engineering. If people fall for this type of con, they are fools.
To sit there and let someone take advantage of you in such a manner, having
never met this particular individual tells exactly what type of person this
individual really is.
The individual that is being taken advantage of, is most likely unsuccessful
in the dating world, and is not confident in themselves as a person.
This is just my two cents concerning this matter.
Thanks.
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Raven Alder
To: pen-test@securityfocus.com
Sent: 3/11/2004 3:29 AM
Subject: Re: Papers on Sex as an audit tool?
Hiya --
Quoth Sriram Lakshmanan (Wed, Mar 10, 2004 at 02:17:07PM +0530):
> Really interesting Point. In my limited audit experience, yet to come
> across "fairer sex" being used to ferret info from clients.
It is a definite factor. I am both female and a pen-tester.
Even if I'm not trying to social-engineer, I find that being a
reasonably attractive woman can be immensely helpful. People tend to
bend over backwards to be charming and helpful, try to impress you with
their knowledge, talk more freely than they would to some unknown guy,
or vastly underestimate your technical skill level. There are times
when it's actually an advantage to be dealing with a sexist jerk.
[grin] "Wow, that looks really *difficult*, you must be so *smart*."
"Well, let me show you, little lady..." "Oh, that's so cool!" [mentally
records details of login challenge-response...]
While I normally focus much more on the technical aspects of
pen-testing than the social ones, I have had co-workers ask me on
multiple occasions to be the one to try the social engineering tactics.
They (correctly) estimated that my chances of success would be much
greater, simply by virtue of looking like the girl next door. And if
the specs of your pen-test contract include social engineering and
physical security, a savvy female with both social engineering skills
*and* technical know-how can do really well. Get in the door, find the
machine, FIRE CD, ba da bing. Corporate security desks tend not to
search purses, either.
I haven't authored any formal papers on the subject, but
probably could. (More of a case study of my own experiences than
anything statistical/canonical, but still.) I'll add it to the "Things
to do in my Copious Spare Time" list. [grin]
Cheers,
Raven
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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