World's Most Dangerous Hacker Reveals Common Method Used by 'Bad Guys' that Can Have Major Consequences

It's easy to dismiss online scams as mere jokes, but the reality is that hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leaving many of us vulnerable to devastating consequences. The story of a woman who was catfished by someone pretending to be Gary Barlow serves as a stark reminder of this risk.

A French woman was scammed out of over £700,000 after being impersonated by someone who claimed to be Brad Pitt. Handsome older celebrities are a popular target for scammers, and it's essential to know how to identify these tactics when they're used over the phone or in emails.

The Dangers of Spearfishing

We spoke with Kevin Mitnick, one of the world's most infamous hackers, who revealed a common method used by those in the business – spearfishing. This technique involves manipulating individuals into giving access to malicious actors.

In an interview published on his website, Kevin explained: "The primary method of hacking is called spearfishing, a subsect of social engineering. You manipulate the human into giving access to the bad guy." Mitnick went on to describe how this works:

"You do research on the company, its employees, vendors, research, customers, etc. Then, you create a false pretext for an email sent to a specific target with internal access. You impersonate someone the target would trust, in order to get them to click on a hyperlink or download an attachment."

"As soon as they do so, a malicious payload gives the bad actor access to that person's computer and an initial foothold within a company's system. After that initial access, hackers use technical tradecraft to gain access to the data they're after."

The Risks of Not Being Cautious

Unless you're extremely vigilant, it's easy to fall victim to spearfishing tactics. Many people rely on digital storage for sensitive information, which can be compromised if a hacker gains access to your computer.

"If you're anything like me and all your passwords are pre-loaded (please don't target me hackers), then you're probably going to be in serious trouble if someone gets access," Mitnick warned. "So, next time your boss sends you an email that you don't like the look of, maybe don't click on anything to be on the safe side."

A Warning from a Former Hacker

Kevin Mitnick's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of spearfishing. After spending five years in prison for his hacking exploits, he turned his life around and became a security consultant.

Mitnick is now sharing his expertise to help others avoid falling victim to these tactics. His warnings are clear: be cautious when interacting with unsolicited emails or phone calls, especially if they're trying to gain your trust by impersonating someone you know.