r/AskNetsec • u/UnusualHeadcount3 • 1d ago

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5

u/Johnny_Chong 1d ago

You're only ever going to be targeted with opportunistic phishing unless there something in the public domain that makes you a higher value target.

Most people don't need to worry about it beyond basic security hygiene.

1

u/UnusualHeadcount3 1d ago

Fair point, but the bar for targeted is getting lower when a scammer can pull your address and a family member's name from a data broker in five seconds. Basic hygiene doesn't cover someone calling your mom with an AI voice clone saying you're in jail

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u/Johnny_Chong 1d ago

The bar isn't that low, even if they had the data to clone millions of voices that sounds like terrible ROI when there's plenty of lower tech stuff that already works on the general population.

I rarely see this activity at work where there is much more targeted attacks. I've seen articles about what you mentioned but I still don't think it's a concern for most people.

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u/Zestyclose_Slice528 1d ago

It’s basically the skeleton key for social engineering, once they got your routines and relationships mapped out the technical defenses stop mattering much.

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u/UnusualHeadcount3 1d ago

That’s basically the conclusion I kept landing on too, no amount of password resets stops someone who sounds like your landlord and knows your dog’s name

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u/CRYL1TH0 1d ago

Phishing is extremely dangerous. You can build the most secure network known to man, but if you manipulate the person who built it into letting you in there's no point.

0

u/defensiveenvirons106 1d ago

Honestly the scariest part is how little effort it takes. A bored teenager with a few free tools can map out your whole life in an afternoon. Deleting old accounts is a pain but it's the only thing that's made a dent for me

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u/UnusualHeadcount3 1d ago

That's exactly it. The low barrier is what makes it so dangerous. I had a neopets account from 2005 with my full name and school listed, like why did that exist