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NO Social Engineering Attack Foiled by Authentication

January 27th, 2010 No comments

Social engineering attacks happen in politics as well as information security. This attack should have been prevented. There should have been a system in place to check credentials before being allowed into the building. This is a common practice at most buildings in Manhattan. One needs to be on a list at the front desk and sign in before being allowed to go to the office level.

According to CNN:

The two men were “each dressed in blue denim pants, a blue work shirt, a light green fluorescent vest, a tool belt and a construction-style hard hat when they entered the Hale Boggs Federal Building,” the release noted.

After they entered the building, the two men told a staffer in Landrieu’s office they were telephone repairmen, according to the release and Rayes’ affidavit. They asked for — and were granted — access to the reception desk’s phone system.

When they asked for further access:

A GSA employee then asked for their credentials, and the two men said they left them in their vehicle, the affidavit said.

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