A threatening message appears out of nowhere. You owe money, or a loved one is in jeopardy, according to the sender's unknown claims. They threaten consequences unless you cough up the cash or disclose personal information.
To say the least, it's unsettling. These "quid pro quo" attacks appear to be on the rise as well. But what is a quid pro quo attack, and how can you avoid one?
Explaining the Quid Pro Quo attack
The Latin phrase "quid pro quo" alludes to a value exchange--receiving something in exchange for something else. A quid pro quo strategy has several forms in the context of attacks or scams:
Extortion: It occurs when an attacker gains access to or claims to have sensitive personal data such as images, messages, or browser history. They threaten to make the information public unless the victim pays a ransom.
Social Engineering: The attacker creates a pressing situation, such as an emergency or a time-sensitive bill. They trick the victim into giving money or disclosing personal information immediately.
Bribery/presents: The hacker promises the victim money, presents, exclusive opportunities, or other incentives in exchange for sensitive data, obscene photos/videos, meetings, and so on.
How quid pro quo attacks target victims
There are several possible settings for quid pro quo attacks. In exchange for the user's login and password, attackers may impersonate someone from an internal or external IT department and promise to deliver a free virus scan to make the user's device operate more efficiently. An attacker could acquire access to the company's network and install malware even with this minimal information.
The attackers can also target home-based employees who receive a call from a specific credit union advertising a low-interest credit card or refinance rate for XYZ firm. To claim the offer, the employee simply needs to enter their social security number, employee ID number, and birthday to validate their credit score.
Most quid pro quo plans involve the attacker providing enough information to make the offer sound reasonable (and most people are looking for a good bargain), so the user delivers the information without considering the potential liabilities.
People impersonating government authorities (such as the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Motor Vehicles, or Social Security Administration) can also be employed in quid pro quo attacks. They may offer to settle a disagreement in exchange for the user's social security number or other personally identifiable information, allowing the perpetrator to steal the victim's identity.
Prevention tips
There are a lot of shady folks on the internet these days. Knowing how to defend yourself against quid pro quo attacks is therefore critical.
First and foremost, vigilance is essential. Be careful of any random emails, calls, DMs, or other communications that make big offers or threats. Examine for telltale symptoms of a fraud, such as urgency, ambiguous details, spelling and grammar errors, and so on.
Consider whether a trustworthy business or individual would contact out in this manner. The IRS will not reach out to you cold and demand quick payment, and Nigerian princes will not suddenly offer you money. It all comes down to weighing the likelihood of the situation.
Speaking about calls, refrain from providing personal information to telemarketers. Your name and information will be known by official organisations like your bank. They won't randomly phone and ask you to confirm something. Hanging up and making a second call on a business line is considerably safer.
The same is true for attachments and links. Move forward with great caution. Phishers are cunning; they make bogus emails that seem authentic. Therefore, before clicking a link, hover over it to see what the actual URL is. Verify if they correspond to the actual site. And be careful not to download malware by opening attachments from unknown senders.
And, of course, never give money, gift cards, or sensitive information to strangers online for any reason. Legitimate help organisations will not cold mail you in this manner. Donate only to verified groups through the official website.
Last but not least, maintain your antivirus, firewalls, and devices up to date. This closes security weaknesses that hackers exploit. It's best to automate software updates wherever feasible so you don't have to think about it.
