April 2nd, 2007
Google practices social engineering
I was prepared to be extra skeptical yesterday, April 1. I was waiting for the "Microsoft purchases Department of Homeland Security" announcements. But even with scam sensors turned up to full I fell for the Google Paper hoax. It was beautiful. It even matched a business plan I put together over ten years ago for a concept I called MediaOut, an online service that would print your snail mail on letterhead, or any document for that matter or even various tape or CD media. It just made sense, although the picture of a guy manually sorting print outs should have clued me in.
But, isn't that the way most social engineering works? The victim hears what he wants to hear? "I love you" in a message heading. Earn millions by handing over your bank account info to a 419er in Nigeria! In this case has Google identified a pent up demand for printed output with a foolish joke?
Richard Stiennon is an industry consultant. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
