Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with socialengineering

Have I harmed myself electronically?

Mr. Justice — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:59:06 -0800

I've just done something that was probably really stupid and am trying to figure out how to fix it. A high school acquaintance called me. I haven't spoken to this guy in 15 years. Says, "Look, is there a way you could help me out?"

He is staying in a hotel. Asks if I can let him use my cell phone number to get a message. The message is from Craigslist, which supplies a security code he needs. I say OK. (I am stupid and trusting.) He asks me to send the security code by email, which I do, after I receive the recorded message.

He is down on his luck and apparently has this idea that he is going to use Craigslist to do astrology for people. Or perhaps that is just a cover story.

Does this sound even remotely legit? What sort of horrific consequences have I let myself in for here?

P.S. He just called back and gave me a hard luck story and asked me for money.

Characters as crafty as Veronica Mars?

giggleknickers — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:03:40 -0800

Characters as crafty as Veronica Mars? I'm unhealthily addicted to Veronica Mars and I can't get enough of her brilliant plans. Could anyone recommend a book/movie/show/game/whatever that features a character as crafty as she is? I especially enjoy the social engineering. So far I've come up with Hackers, Shooting Fish, Sneakers and Catch Me if You Can.

Thank you in advance!

A short course in guilt.

the giant pill — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:47:33 -0800

What are some easy/common ways to make a stranger feel guilty? Have researchers studied what things make people feel guilty? Apart from an emotional relationship with another person, what specific sorts of stimuli are most effective at making people feel guilt? I've tried searching the scholarly journal databases on "guilt," but all I seem to turn up is either guilt in a personal relationship context, guilt in the eyes of the law, and self guilt. And those things tend to be extremely dense and not written for a guy like me What I am trying to find are social mechanisms could produce guilt in strangers during the natural progression of a "get to know each other" conversation. I'm not really interested in the "I have cancer / my dog just died" types of ruses.

No responses addressing any applicable ethical issues, please; I have considered those already and they are not part of the problem I seek to solve.

Are hackers infesting O'Hare and LAX?

soulbarn — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 10:35:50 -0800

This happened to me last week at O'Hare - and now, today, in LAX. I opened my laptop in the terminal and checked for wireless networks. I noticed that there was a "computer-to-computer" network called "Free Public Wifi" available. I didn't try to connect, because I know that such networks generally can't provide internet access if there's no other connection available. Does this mean there are folks trying to socially engineer gullible wireless users? What could they gain? Would Windows be more vulnerable than Macs? AND how would a curious samaritan figure out who, amongst the dozen or more folks with open laptops in the vicinity, the culprit is?