January 2, 2024 at 03:58PM
Hackers recently targeted UK-based Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) using social engineering and LinkedIn. The company, now part of Nuclear Waste Services (NWS), has seen attempts to exploit business changes after a recent merger. The attackers were blocked through “multi-layered defenses,” but LinkedIn’s guidance recommends caution to avoid falling prey to similar scams.
Based on the meeting notes, it appears that Radioactive Waste Management (RWM) and its newly formed entity Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) have been targeted by hackers using social engineering methods primarily through LinkedIn. The chief executive of NWS noted that the attackers have been attempting to capitalize on the recent merger with two other companies to trick targets into falling for their tactics.
It is mentioned that NWS has not experienced any significant impact from these attempts due to their multi-layered defenses. However, it is highlighted that LinkedIn has been used by the attackers to identify employees within the business. The meeting also outlined the tactics typically used by hackers on social media sites, such as creating fake accounts, sending false messages, and gathering information in an attempt to gain access to a company’s system through phishing or malware.
To protect against such scams and social engineering attacks, it is advised to avoid engaging with impersonal messages, messages asking for personal or financial information, messages containing noticeable grammar and spelling mistakes, and messages with offers that seem overly generous or “too good to be true,” according to LinkedIn.
Overall, the meeting notes provide insight into the specific tactics used by hackers through social engineering, the responses of NWS to these attacks, and guidance on how to avoid falling victim to such tactics on platforms like LinkedIn.