CISMP-V9 - BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles V9.0

The method used to target senior individuals in an organization for coercing them into actions like misdirected high-value payments is known as a whaling attack. This type of attack is a more targeted version of phishing, aimed specifically at high-ranking executives or important individuals within an organization. The attackers masquerade as a senior player at the organization and use social engineering techniques to trick the target into performing actions such as transferring money or revealing sensitive information. Whaling attacks are highly personalized and often involve extensive research on the target to make the fraudulent requestsseem legitimate and convincing. The term “whaling” is used because it refers to going after the “big fish” or “whales” of an organization, such as CEOs or CFOs, who have access to significant resources and sensitive information. References: Based on the information provided by Kaspersky’s resource center on whaling attacks1.

The best practice when handling and investigating digital evidence for use in a criminal cybercrime investigation is to ensure that digital devices are forensically “clean” before any investigation takes place. This means that the devices should be free from any potential contamination that could compromise the integrity of the evidence. It’s crucial to maintain the original state of digital evidence as much as possible to ensure its admissibility in court. Altering digital evidence should be avoided unless it’s absolutely necessary for the investigation, and even then, it should be done following strict protocols to document the changes made. While law enforcement often handles digital evidence, the principle of maintaining a forensically clean state applies universally to ensure the evidence remains untainted and reliable.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity and reliability of digital evidence. It outlines the procedures and controls that should be in place when dealing with digital evidence, which includes ensuring devices are forensically clean before investigation1.

Dumpster diving refers to the practice of sifting through commercial or residential waste to find items that have been discarded but can still be of value, particularly information. In the context of information security, dumpster diving is a significant threat because it can lead to the recovery of sensitive documents, storage devices, or other materials that contain confidential data. When disposing of such items, it’s crucial to ensure they are destroyed or sanitized in a manner that prevents data reconstruction or retrieval. This aligns with the BCS Information Security Management Principles, which emphasize the importance of secure disposal methods to protect against unauthorized access to or recovery of sensitive information1234.

References: The BCS Foundation Certificate in Information Security Management Principles outlines the need for proper disposal procedures to mitigate the risks associated with data recovery from discarded materials1. Additionally, industry best practices and guidelines, such as those from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), provide detailed methods for the secure sanitization and disposal of electronic media4.