Phishing is a cyber-attack method that introduces malware to a computer via email. Intruders send users emails containing links under various pretexts. After clicking these links, the malware enters your computer. Thus, cybercriminals deceive the target to get as much data about the user as possible: his card numbers, bank accounts, etc

Types of Phishing Attacks

We have already figured out what phishing is and how it manifests itself. Now let’s look at the types of this phishing, so you are more comfortable understanding it, understand where it can meet on your way, and what is dangerous for your PC. See below:

Examples of Phishing Attacks

Above, we have reviewed the types of phishing. Consider now the examples of how these types of phishing appear in action:

What is Spoofing Attacks?

Spoofing is the substitution of foreign data by a cybercriminal by falsification to use it for their evil intentions unlawfully. It is often done to bypass the control and security system and distribute malware. The most common types of spoofing are IP spoofing, DNS spoofing, and email spoofing.

Types of Spoofing Attack

1. Email Spoofing. This method involves deception and the forgery of the sender’s address in the letters. This is what the attacker does as a way to spoof the domain, change the sender address, and change the value of the fields “From” and “Reply to”
2. Website Spoofing. The attacker creates a fake site that masquerades as legitimate. For the visibility of a realistic site, intruders use legal logos, colors, and fonts. The purpose of this method is to install malware on your computer through such a site.
3. Caller ID Spoofing. In this case, the attacker is hiding under a fake phone number. Any outgoing call number is used, but the incoming one will be the one that the intruder wants. That is, it will be difficult to identify the attacker, as he hides his outgoing number.
4. IP Spoofing. It is the renumbering IP addresses in packets sent to the attacking server. The sending packet specifies the address that the recipient trusts. As a result, the victim receives the data that the hacker needs. You can completely exclude IP spoofing by comparing the sender’s MAC and IP addresses. However, this type of spoofing can be helpful. For example, hundreds of virtual users with false IP addresses were created to test resource performance.
5. DNS Server Spoofing. One way to crack something is to attack by replacing DNS domain names to replace the IP address. DNS (Domain Name Server) spoofing or DNS cache poisoning is a type of cyberattack used by an attacker to direct the victim’s traffic to a malicious website (instead of a legitimate IP address).

Examples of Spoofing Attacks

Each type of spoofing can manifest itself differently. However, for you to understand the general picture of how spoofing works, below we will look at some examples:

Difference Between Phishing and Spoofing

Now that we know what phishing and spoofing are, we know of the species and how they manifest themselves in practice, then we can consider what the difference between them is:

How to Prevent Phishing and Spoofing Attacks

Of course, there are methods to avoid an attack from the side of spoofing and phishing attacks . Of course, you cannot do anything because you will hurt yourself, but we recommend you take some measures. See below:

Phishing:

Before clicking on the proposed link in the email, move your mouse over it and look at the address you will go to. It should be the same as you were given. If it is different – it is likely to be a hoax. If you receive messages with such a logo – “Do not hesitate”, “Last Chance”, “Hurry”, and the like, then delete them or send them to spam. They pressure you to make a quick decision and immediately click on the link. Open any attachment only through proven and reliable sources. If you have received an email from a particular user, but you are not sure it will be sent to you, you better call him.

Spoofing:

• Check the letter for grammatical and spelling errors.
• Look carefully at the sender’s address
• Encryption and authentication
• Robust verification methods
• Firewall (protects your network, filters traffic with fake IP addresses, blocks access of unauthorized strangers).

You can also apply the same tips that we have considered to prevent phishing. It would help if you were careful in all these aspects. You do not know what you will be exposed to. Put protection on your PC, which will work for your benefit, warn you about perceived threats, and will closely monitor all your online activities.

We invite you to try Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, it is an excellent protection against spoofing, phishing attacks, and other online threats. Moreover, it is also able to get rid of the virus that helps scammers to deceive you.

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What is Sniffing?

Sniffing involves monitoring data packets and recording network activities. System or network administrators commonly employ sniffers to troubleshoot network issues. However, hackers find sniffing to be a convenient technique. Through sniffing, they can intercept sensitive data packets containing valuable information such as account credentials and passwords. Cybercriminals typically implant sniffer software within the system to facilitate their illicit activities.

Types of Sniffing Attacks

To effectively combat sniffing attacks, it is crucial to understand their origins, characteristics, and defensive measures. Below, we will explore different types of sniffing attacks to provide a clear understanding of their nature and manifestations:

Active Sniffing

Active sniffing occurs within a switch environment. A switch’s primary function is to track MAC port addresses and facilitate data transfer to specific destinations. In active sniffing, interceptors proactively inject traffic into the local network to intercept data between targets. Various methods can be employed to carry out active sniffing.

Passive Sniffing

Passive sniffing involves listening through a hub. When traffic passes through a network segment, it becomes visible to all machines within that segment. The traffic operates at the network link layer. Through this method, hackers send network packets across the network, allowing them to reach connected machines and intercept data.

In the case of active sniffing with address resolution protocols, attackers tamper with the switch’s content-addressable memory tables. By doing so, they intercept data from the switch, redirecting legitimate traffic to alternate ports. Other sniffing techniques include spoofing, DNS, and DHCP.

What is Spoofing?

Spoofing is a type of cybercrime where attackers impersonate other computers or networks, disguising themselves as ordinary users to deceive the target into believing the authenticity of the source of information. This method is employed by hackers as a variation of operating system hacking to steal sensitive data, exploit compromised computers, launch DDoS (Denial of Service) attacks, and more.

Different Types of Spoofing Attacks

Various forms of spoofing attacks exist, including GPS spoofing, website spoofing, IP spoofing, and others. These attacks target different avenues, demonstrating that attacks and hacks can occur beyond web browsers and pop-up windows. Below, we will outline the most common types of spoofing:

1. Caller ID Spoofing. Intruders use spoofing the caller ID so that they can not block the number. They take other people’s numbers; they use alien city codes to disguise themselves. They use voice protocol on the Internet. All this is to get important information from the recipient of this call after the recipient picks up the phone.
2. Email Spoofing. Through this method, attackers attempt to steal your confidential data, harm your computer or put malicious software on it. These are disguised emails. The sender’s address bar may seem familiar to you; it is done to deceive you as if the letters were legal. Be careful. In this case, we will use alternative letters or numbers in the sender’s address bar.
3. Website Spoofing. Intruders disguise a dangerous website as a legitimate website. They use similar colors and the shape of company logos to do this. The addresses of these sites are also fake, although they may be identical to legal ones. Of course, the primary purpose of this is to harm the user. When you visit such a site, it turns out to be malicious, endangering your computer and its data.
4. DNS Server Spoofing. This method redirects traffic to a different IP address. In this case, it occurs at the DNS protocol level. DNS (Domain Name Server) spoofing or DNS cache poisoning is a type of cyberattack used by an attacker to direct the victim’s traffic to a malicious website (instead of a legitimate IP address).
5. GPS Spoofing. It’s easy to fool GPS receivers; Fake signals resemble accurate signals. It is done to divert planes, ships, and other vehicles and redirects them to different addresses.
6. ARP Spoofing. It is a method of manipulation to capture sessions and steal personal data. The ultimate goal is to access the data of this address’s owner. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) spoofing is a type of cyberattack that relies on attackers sending malicious ARP packets to a default gateway over a local area network (LAN), using it to associate their own MAC address with an IP address. gateway devise.
7. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack. They are also known as the attack type «man in the middle» (MITM). In these attacks, the attacker intercepts communication between two users. Thus, the attacker can deceive the victim by revealing confidential information by «substitution» of the identity of the original sender, whom the recipient supposedly trusts.
8. Text Message Spoofing. The method of sending a text message via the wrong phone number. These text messages send links through which the user can get malicious and phishing downloads. Protect yourself and your mobile phone data using security.
9. Extension Spoofing. The attacker changes the file extension and masks malware under the test file. After running this text file on your device, the malware gets on your device.

Difference Between Sniffing and Spoofing

Now, let’s delve into the distinction between sniffing and spoofing. Sniffing involves the collection of data packets, analysis of network traffic, and the interception of targeted packets. On the other hand, spoofing focuses on stealing user data, distributing malware, and facilitating various forms of data theft through phishing attacks. In spoofing, attackers utilize a foreign IP address and create a TCP/IP connection to deceive the system. In contrast, sniffing occurs when an attacker (or a program) manipulates between two packet transfer points, impersonating one of those points to intercept and steal the data being exchanged between them.

Protection Against Sniffing and Spoofing

Every day, cybercriminals develop more and more different malware for attacks. Below we will consider some of the most common items for protection:

Sniffing

Spoofing

After reading everything, you might be wondering how to navigate online safely. However, this article is not intended to make you fear using various services and withdraw from civilization. On the contrary, our aim is to alert you to the risks posed by cybercriminals and provide you with reliable protection through the use of Gridinsoft Anti-Malware. This powerful tool scans all incoming and outgoing files on your network, actively monitors the websites you visit, and shields you from any malicious attempts targeting your computer. With Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, you can confidently navigate the online world with enhanced security.

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DNS (Domain name server) spoofing or DNS cache poisoning is a type of cyberattack used by an attacker to direct the victim’s traffic to a malicious website (instead of a legal IP address). Attackers use DNS cache poisoning to redirect Internet traffic and steal sensitive information.

For example, a hacker wants to trick users into entering personal information on an insecure site. How does he do that? By poisoning the DNS cache. The hacker spoofs or replaces the DNS data for a specific site and redirects the victim to the attacker’s server instead of the legitimate server. In this way, the hacker achieves his goal because he has many opportunities: he can commit a phishing attack, steal data or even inject malware into the victim’s system.

How Does DNS Spoofing Work?

Before talking about DNS cache poisoning, let’s first remember what DNS and DNS caching are. DNS is a worldwide directory of IP addresses and domain names. DNS pairs user-friendly addresses, such as facebook.com, into IP addresses, such as 157.240.22.35, that computers use on the network. DNS caching is a system for storing addresses on DNS servers worldwide. To speed up the processing of your DNS requests, developers have created a distributed DNS system. Each server keeps a list of available DNS records called a cache. If the DNS server closest to you does not have the required IP address, it queries the higher DNS servers until the address of the website you are trying to get to is not found. Your DNS server then saves this new record in your cache to get a response faster next time.

Unfortunately, DNS has several security flaws that attackers can exploit and insert forged Internet domain address records into the system. Typically, criminals send fake responses to the DNS server. The server then replies to the user who made the request, and at the same time, the legitimate servers will cache the fake record. Once the DNS cache server stores the fake pair, all subsequent requests for the compromised record will get the server’s address controlled by the attacker.

DNS Spoofing Techniques Can Include:

Cybercriminals can easily compromise DNS responses while remaining undetected due to security vulnerabilities in specific web applications and the lack of proper authentication of DNS records. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Lack of Verification and Validation

DNS has a first trust structure that does not require IP validation to verify before sending a response. Because DNS resolvers do not validate data in the cache, an invalid entry remains until it is manually deleted or the TTL expires.

Recursive DNS Resolver Vulnerability

When recursive querying is active, the DNS server receives the request and does all the work of finding the correct address and sending the response to the user. If it does not have a record in its cache, it will query other DNS servers until it gets the address and returns it to the user. Enabling recursive querying presents a security vulnerability that attackers can exploit to poison the DNS cache.

As the server looks for the address, the attacker can intercept the traffic and provide a fake response. The recursive DNS server will send the response to the user and simultaneously store the spoofed IP address in its cache.

No Encryption

Typically, the DNS protocol is not encrypted, making it easier for attackers to intercept its traffic. In addition, servers do not have to verify the IP addresses to which they route traffic. Hence they cannot determine whether it is genuine or spoofed.

How to Prevent DNS Spoofing?

Real-time monitoring of DNS data can help identify unusual patterns, user actions, or behaviors in traffic, such as visiting malicious sites. And while detecting DNS cache poisoning is difficult, there are several security measures companies and service providers can take to prevent it. Some measures to prevent DNS cache poisoning include using DNSSEC, disabling recursive queries, and more.

The Limit of The Trust Relationships

One of the vulnerabilities of DNS transactions is the high trust relationship between different DNS servers. Therefore, servers do not authenticate the records they receive, allowing attackers to send fake responses from their illegitimate servers.

To prevent attackers from exploiting this flaw, security groups should limit the level of trust their DNS servers have with others. Configuring DNS servers to not rely on trust relationships with other DNS servers makes it difficult for hackers to use a DNS server to compromise records on legitimate servers. There are many tools available to check for DNS security threats.

Use the DNSSEC protocol

Because Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) uses public-key cryptography to sign DNS records, it adds validation and allows systems to determine whether an address is valid or not. This prevents forgery by verifying and authenticating requests and responses.

In regular operation, the DNSSEC protocol associates a unique cryptographic signature with other DNS information, such as CNAME and A records. The DNS resolver then uses this signature to authenticate the DNS response before sending it to the user.

Security signatures ensure that a legitimate source server validates responses to requests that users receive. Although DNSSEC can prevent DNS cache poisoning, it has drawbacks such as complex deployment, data provisioning, and zone enumeration vulnerabilities in earlier versions.

Use The Latest DNS and BIND Versions Software

Beginning with version 9.5.0 BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) includes enhanced security features such as cryptographically secure transaction identifiers and port randomization, which minimizes the chance of DNS cache poisoning. It is also important that the IT staff keeps it up to date and ensures that it is the latest and safest version. Here are some more useful tips to help prevent DNS cache poisoning.

DNS cache poisoning causes domain users to be redirected to malicious addresses. In addition, some attacker-controlled servers can trick unsuspecting users into downloading malware or providing passwords, credit card information, and other confidential information. To prevent this, it is essential to use reliable security methods.

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What is IP Spoofing?

IP spoofing is a type of cyberattack where the attacker forces the server to think that a package sender is a completely different system. Hackers mostly use this approach to launch DDoS attacks or, in rare cases, to intercept the connection. The latter is a basic part of the attack called Man-in-the-Middle. As a fact, IP spoofing was among the first methods to launch a DDoS attack.

Depending on the network protocol targeted by the attack vector, there are several types of spoofing: IP-, ARP-, DNS-, MAC-, and GPS-spoofing. There, however, I will review only IP spoofing

What is IP Address Spoofing?

Keyword: Internet Protocol (IP) is a network protocol that does not establish a connection (working on layer 3 (network) of the OSI model), meaning no transaction status information is used to route packets over the web. In addition, there is no method to ensure the correct delivery of the package to the destination.

IP spoofing is the renumbering IP addresses in packets sent to the attacking server. The sending packet specifies the address that the recipient trusts. As a result, the victim receives the data that the hacker needs. You can completely exclude the spoofing by comparing the sender’s MAC and IP addresses. However, this type of spoofing can be helpful. For example, hundreds of virtual users with false IP addresses were created to test resource performance.

How Does This Attack Work?

Any attack works according to some scheme, thanks to which it develops its identical structure of actions. For example, below we have a rule present in all Internet protocols:

All data that is transmitted between computer networks is divided into packets. Each package have its IP headers, which include the source IP address and the destination IP address.

What’s a cybercriminal doing with all this? It starts to change the IP addresses it compiles so that the recipient will think the sending is coming from a reliable source. These operations take place on a network level, so there are no signs on the surface. The spoofing process falsifies the sender’s address to convince the remote system that it receives the address from an objective source.

Types of IP spoofing

To understand how to prevent your data from IP spoofing attacks, you need to know and understand the types of these attacks, how they manifest or not, and their purpose. There are several variants of attacks that successfully use this trick.

• Masking Botnet devices
  Sometimes IP spoofing can penetrate the computer by using botnets. Botnets are a network of hacked computers that the attacker controls remotely. Unfortunately, tracking the bot is not as easy as you would like. So instead, disguise it under a fake IP address.
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
  IP spoofing is used in one of the most complex attacks for protection – «denial in maintenance» or DDoS. Because hackers deal only with bandwidth and resource consumption, they do not need to worry about the correct completion of transactions. Instead, they want to flood the victim with as many packets as possible in a short period. It is almost impossible to quickly block it when involved in an attack by several hacked “hosts” accepting all sent fake traffic.
  
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• Man in the middle Attacks
  They are also known as the attack type «man in the middle» (MITM). In these attacks, the attacker intercepts communication between two users. The cybercriminal then manages the traffic and can eliminate or modify the information sent by one of the original IP addresses without knowing the original sender or the recipient. Thus, the attacker can deceive the victim by revealing confidential information by «substitution» of the identity of the original sender, whom the recipient supposedly trusts.

How to Detect IP spoofing

It is almost impossible to notice a submenu IP address because the submenu occurs on a network level and connections often look like legitimate requests. So there are no external signs. But not all are unsuccessful! Network monitoring tools make it possible to do traffic analysis at endpoints. It would also be appropriate for such attacks to do packet filtering; what would it do? These package systems located in the firewall and routers find a discrepancy between the required IP address and the IP addresses of the packets specified in the ACL (access control list), so it is possible to find an attacker on the network.

Package filters control:

• Physical interface from where the package came;
• IP and (IP – source addresses);
• IP and (IP – destination addresses);
• Transport level type (TCP, UDP, ICMP);
• Transport ports of origin and destination.

Let’s look at two types of packet filtering:

• Egress filtering – reviews outgoing packets for source addresses that do not match organizations’ IP addresses in the network. This type of filtering prevents the launch of IP address substitution attacks by insiders.
• Ingress filtering. This type of filtering monitors whether the outgoing IP address of the header corresponds to the allowed IP address and rejects all non-conforming packets.

How to Protect Against IP Address Spoofing Attack?

The main measures that minimize the possibility of such attacks include:

• Router filtering;
• Encryption and authentication (will reduce the likelihood of spoofing);
• Robust verification methods;
• Network monitoring;
• Using firewall (protects your network, filters traffic with fake IP addresses, blocks access of unauthorized strangers);

If you follow the precautions mentioned above and understand why spoofing attacks are used, you can protect your network from malicious hacking and data theft.

You know that protecting against spoofing attacks and other online threats is an important mandatory step for users. Protect yourself from spoofing attacks. Take back control of your privacy with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, the best antivirus software available. Definitely the best scanner, detector and removal of spoofing attacks. There are enough reasons to choose Gridinsoft Anti-Malware as the solution to your PC problems right now.

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