Simulated phishing attack with sequential messages

• US 9,053,326 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cofense, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PhishMe Incorporated
• Inventors: Higbee, Aaron, Belani, Rohyt, Greaux, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ABYANEH, ALI S
• Application Number:
  US13/763,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/577 Assessing vulnerabilities and evaluating computer system security
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1483 service impersonation, e.g. phishing, pharming or web spoofing detection of rogue wireless access points H04W12/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227

Abstract

Described herein are methods, network devices and machine-readable storage media for conducting simulated phishing attacks on an individual so as to educate the individual about the various ways in which phishing attacks may be disguised. Specifically described is a simulated phishing attack involving a sequence of messages. At least one of the messages has an associated target action that would ordinary, if the attack were an actual phishing attack, result in the individual'"'"'s personal information and/or computing device becoming compromised. In the simulated phishing attack, no malicious action is actually performed. At least one of the other messages is designed to draw attention to the message with the target action.

Claims

1. A network device, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device connected to the processor; and

a set of instructions on the storage device that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

conduct a simulated phishing attack, the simulated attack comprising;

transmitting a first message to at least one of one or more computing devices of an individual, the first message being disguised as originating from at least one of one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and notifying the individual that the individual should expect to receive a second message; and

after transmitting the first message, transmitting the second message to the at least one of the one or more computing devices of the individual, the second message also being disguised as originating from at least one of the one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and attempting to lure the individual into performing, on at least one of the one or more computing device, a target action associated with the second message,

wherein if the individual performs the target action, the simulated phishing attack does not actually compromise any personal information or any one of the one or more computing devices of the individual; and

monitor whether the individual performs the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices.

2. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

conduct a simulated phishing attack, the simulated attack comprising;

transmitting a first message to at least one of one or more computing devices of an individual, the first message being disguised as originating from at least one of one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and notifying the individual that the individual should expect to receive a second message; and

after transmitting the first message, transmitting the second message to at least one of the one or more computing devices of the individual, the second message also being disguised as originating from at least one of the one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and attempting to lure the individual into performing, on at least one of the one or more computing devices, a target action associated with the second message,

wherein if the individual performs the target action, the simulated phishing attack does not actually compromise any personal information or any one of the one or more computing devices of the individual; and

monitor whether the individual performs the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices.

3. A network device, comprising:

a processor;

a storage device connected to the processor; and

a set of instructions on the storage device that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

conduct a simulated phishing attack, the simulated attack comprising;

transmitting a first message to at least one of one or more computing devices of an individual, the first message being disguised as originating from at least one of one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and attempting to lure the individual into performing, on the at least one of the one or more computing devices, a target action associated with the first message; and

after transmitting the first message, transmitting a second message to at least one of the one or more computing devices of the individual, the second message also being disguised as originating from at least one of the one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and encouraging the individual to perform the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices,

wherein if the individual performs the target action, the simulated phishing attack does not actually compromise any personal information or any one of the one or more computing devices of the individual; and

monitor whether the individual performs the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices.

4. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

conduct a simulated phishing attack, the simulated attack comprising;

transmitting a first message to at least one of one or more computing devices of an individual, the first message being disguised as originating from at least one of one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and attempting to lure the individual into performing, on at least one of the one or more computing devices, a target action associated with the first message; and

after transmitting the first message, transmitting a second message to at least one of the one or more computing devices of the individual, the second message also being disguised as originating from at least one of the one or more trustworthy contacts of the individual and encouraging the individual to perform the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices,

wherein if the individual performs the target action, the simulated phishing attack does not actually compromise any personal information or any one of the one or more computing devices of the individual; and

monitor whether the individual performs the target action on at least one of the one or more computing devices.