What is spoofing? Types, risks, and how to stay protected

What is spoofing?

Spoofing is a type of cybercriminal act where malicious actors impersonate people and companies with the explicit intent of stealing sensitive information, like login details, Social Security numbers, and banking information, or infecting devices with malware to steal files directly.

Spoofing is frequently used against companies to trick employees into revealing confidential information. Hackers pretend to be business partners or internal executives to build a sense of familiarity with their target. They request login credentials to access internal systems. If the employee shares this information, the criminals can log in and view valuable data related to the product and clients. They can then use this compromised information to launch a ransomware attack within the company.

Spoofing is also effectively used in spear phishing campaigns, where cybercriminals pick a particular target and build the entire scam around them to make it as personalized as possible. They pretend to be an acquaintance, a family member, or a business that the person knows. Once they build a rapport with the victim, they use the trust to obtain sensitive information, like access to their bank account. Spoofing tactics are closely related to identity theft because they involve deception and often use stolen personal information.

Spoofing vs. phishing

Spoofing mechanics can sound a lot like phishing campaigns, and for good reason. Spoofing is the means to an end — data stolen through phishing. It creates the circumstances in which hackers need to contact their target and obtain their sensitive information. Without spoofing, cybercriminals can’t design an efficient phishing attack.

Spoofing strategies can be customized to match the goals of a specific phishing campaign. If the goal is to steal credentials, hackers might be more likely to rely on email or Wi-Fi spoofing. If they want to target a company, they would use more technical spoofing methods, like DNS spoofing. Without applying spoofing, cybercriminals can’t design an efficient phishing attack.

Types of spoofing

Much like phishing, spoofing is not a one-size-fits-all scheme. Depending on what information cybercriminals want to extract and the resources available, spoofing attacks can look different and be implemented on a range of channels and even devices.

Some spoofing types target the victim using communication, such as emails, phone calls, or text messages. Others require more technical calibration and knowledge related to IP use and Wi-Fi networks. Cybercriminals often combine multiple spoofing methods into a single attack, making it harder to identify how the user was targeted. Learning to recognize the main characteristics of each spoofing type can help protect sensitive data from accidental breaches.

Email spoofing

Email spoofing is one of the most common spoofing attack types. Cybercriminals forge the sender’s email address or use a very similar decoy address to pretend that the email is coming from a reputable source. Email spoofing is frequently used to execute phishing emails against both private and corporate accounts.

Email spoofing is often combined with website spoofing to scam recipients more effectively. Criminals create an email that imitates the design, style, and content of a real person or company. They then send this email to their target in hopes that they respond or interact with links or attachments within the email that redirect to fraudulent websites or malicious files.

Website (URL) spoofing

Website spoofing involves creating a fake site that imitates a real service provider. It often only copies a few select pages, like the home page or the login portal. The link to the fake website is usually very similar to the legitimate URL. However, it can use extra repetition of characters, numbers used instead of letters, and hyphens — think “serviice-pr0vider” instead of “serviceprovider.”

Spoofed websites aim to phish their targets’ sensitive data. They may be prompted to log in to access a service, create a new account, or enter their banking details to finalize a purchase. Spoofed websites can also employ malicious pop-ups, which, when clicked, download malware on the target’s device.

Caller ID spoofing

Caller ID spoofing is a phone scam in which the targets receive calls from criminals pretending to be another person or company. This spoofing method has become more prominent with the rise of AI-generated audio to imitate a familiar person’s voice.

Caller ID spoofing is often used for financial fraud. It uses urgency and threats to pressure people into revealing their sensitive information. A common caller ID scam is pretending that a family member was injured or arrested. Scammers can also attempt to gain their targets’ Social Security numbers and insurance information by claiming to be debt collectors, police officers, or migration agents.

SMS spoofing

Similar to caller ID spoofing, SMS spoofing requires cybercriminals to falsify the sender’s information to convince their target that the text message they’ve received is legitimate. They often impersonate parcel delivery services, phone service providers, banks, or migration services.

SMS spoofing is often combined with website spoofing. The fraudulent text messages contain a link to track an item or confirm a request. If the target opens the link and enters any details, criminals can access their personal information. In some instances, SMS spoofing can lead to mobile malware attacks, allowing hackers to breach phone storage.

Social media spoofing

Social media spoofing can look like full website spoofing or specific account spoofing. In the first instance, scammers create a website that imitates a social media platform. If the user logs in to the fake platform, the criminals can access their real social media account.

If criminals are spoofing a specific account, they create a decoy profile impersonating a person or a page, similar to using fake identities for SMS or caller ID spoofing. They then send private messages, often sharing malicious links or files with their target.

Wi-Fi spoofing

For Wi-Fi spoofing, cybercriminals set up fake Wi-Fi networks. They make these networks publicly accessible and often locate them in or near shared spaces, like shopping malls and cafés. The spoofed network traffic is unencrypted, so when a user connects to it, the criminals can see the data input, including all login credentials the user accesses while connected.

IP address spoofing

IP address spoofing, or IP spoofing for short, involves creating fake source IP packets to pretend to be a legitimate sender, hide the real sender’s identity, and start a DDoS attack. Cybercriminals use botnets to overwhelm server traffic, causing downtime or taking out a service completely. Instigators of IP spoofing are often hard to identify because they use botnet systems and obfuscate the identity of each device.

DNS spoofing

Domain name system (DNS) spoofing involves manipulating DNS records and redirecting the user’s traffic from a legitimate domain to a fraudulent one. The targets then input information like their login credentials or banking details into the fraudulent website. It can be used in phishing attacks to extract valuable information and is used against businesses to hold this information for ransom.

MAC spoofing

MAC (media access control) spoofing is a technical attack in which a hacker disguises their computer's MAC address with that of their target’s. This allows the hacker’s computer to interfere with the target’s network traffic and intercept and redirect data that crosses through it. MAC spoofing is used to bypass network security protocols and can compromise companies' network systems.

How does spoofing work?

The mechanics of spoofing differ depending on the type of attack criminals commit. However, for simplicity’s sake, let’s take the most common types — email and website spoofing — to see how cybercriminals conduct an entire attack against a business.

1. Cybercriminals create a fake website they’ll use to funnel data. Such websites usually use the HTTP protocol, which offers a lower level of security and doesn’t encrypt data.
2. They then create a spoofed email address to share this website. This email address can imitate a legitimate address used by an individual or a company. For example, if the criminals are spoofing a retailer's customer support, the spoofed email address might look like “[email protected]” to trick the recipient.
3. Cybercriminals send an email containing the spoofed website address to their target or targets. They may use a contact list of email addresses that appeared in a data breach, target all domains of specific companies, or send it to select individuals.
4. If the email isn’t flagged by the inbox provider’s spam filters, the recipient opens and reads it.
5. If they click the link and interact with the email by submitting their personal information, cybercriminals can see everything they’ve entered.
6. Cybercriminals then take the data from the website and use it for ransom, identity theft, or sell it on the dark web.

What are the risks and consequences of a spoofing attack?

Spoofing attacks create a high risk of data breaches. Users who fall for spoofing campaigns unknowingly expose their sensitive data to cybercriminals, often granting access to their personal accounts, financial records, or even their devices. The data can then be sold on the dark web or be used as ransom to earn profit from the victim directly.

The information stolen through spoofing or phishing can be used to impersonate the victim and mishandle their personal data. The consequences of identity theft for individuals include:

• Compromised bank accounts. Criminals can use stolen financial information to funnel funds illegally, open or close bank accounts, and take out loans using the victim’s name.
• Stolen online accounts. If the data involved login credentials, criminals can access and overtake these accounts by changing the password. Those accounts can then be used for social media spoofing or as vessels for phishing attacks.
• Mishandled Social Security numbers. If cybercriminals gain access to a stolen SSN, they can impersonate the victim to access their insurance, credit, and employment data.

One of the biggest consequences of identity theft for businesses affected by spoofing is the breach of confidentiality. Criminals can attempt to steal data related to internal projects, client details, company funds, or organizational data. They can target businesses with ransomware, effectively holding the information hostage and threatening to release it to the public or sell it on the dark web unless the company pays to have the data returned.

If a business is compromised by spoofing or phishing attempts, its reputation can also experience damage. Attacks like DNS or MAC spoofing can compromise a company’s network security, which impacts customers’ and partners’ trust. Following the attack, they may lose clients and see profits drop. If the spoofers pretend to be a specific employee, that person may suffer professional damages.

How to detect spoofing

The difficulty of detecting spoofing depends on the kind of spoofing threat you’re dealing with. Attacks that tend to target individuals more, like caller ID or social media spoofing, can be easier to identify, whereas business-focused attacks like DNS or MAC spoofing require some technical prowess. Learning to spot the red flags of different types of attacks can help protect both your personal and work-related data more effectively.

Look for signs of phishing in the email

Check the email sender address before opening the content. See if the username and domain look legitimate and compare them against legitimate emails that the person or service contacting you uses. Do not reply, download attachments, or open links if you spot any signs of a phishing email.

Analyze the spoofed website

Don’t open a suspicious link in an email or a text message outright. Copy and paste it into a phishing website checker. Compare the domain to a real website and look out for inconsistencies like wrong spelling or unusual dashes. If you open the website, see what security protocol it uses. If it’s HTTP and not HTTPS, it’s likely that the website is unsafe.

Check the phone number

Use an online service to check the phone number calling you against a database of recorded spam calls. Avoid picking up the phone if the caller ID is hidden. If the call or text message claims to come from a specific business, check their contact information online to compare the number.

Watch out for urgency

Spoofers try to force users to give up their sensitive information by pressuring them with threats of urgency. They might claim the user will have to pay a fine or lose access to a service if they don’t “act now.” If you see threatening and urgent language, review the message carefully and don’t succumb to the pressure.

Review social media accounts

If you receive a suspicious message from a mutual friend or a follower on social media, review their account first. See if they’ve started sharing suspicious content recently. If you have their contact details outside social media, reach out and ask if their account has been compromised.

Look for network security irregularities

Handling Wi-Fi, IP, DNS, or MAC spoofing threats requires more technical skill and is often a concern for companies relying on network security systems. Look for security vulnerabilities in updates and manually review local networks. Check the network traffic for irregular redirections and use intrusion detection systems to identify spoofing activities.

How to prevent spoofing attacks

Spoofing attacks have proven to be an effective strategy for stealing sensitive information. However, they’re easy to avoid if you take the right steps to protect your individual and business data.

• Use spam filters in your inbox to automatically flag potentially spoofed emails and quarantine any files you might have accidentally downloaded.
• Do not answer unknown incoming calls or reply to messages from unfamiliar senders.
• Before opening a potentially spoofed URL in an email or a text message, run it through a website checker to see if it’s legitimate.
• Update your login credentials, especially if you accidentally submitted your login details to a spoofed website. Use unique passwords for all your accounts to prevent cybercriminals from gaining unauthorized access to them.
• Set up multi-factor authentication. Use an authentication app as your MFA method because SMS authentication can be spoofed.
• When possible, choose passkeys as your preferred login method. They eliminate the need for a password and require an authentication device as well as biometrics to access your accounts.
• Use a VPN to connect to networks, especially if you plan to use public Wi-Fi networks. A VPN encrypts your data, preventing hackers from funneling it.
• Report spoofing to services and individuals who are being spoofed. They can then alert others who might be affected by the spoofing campaign and prevent cybercriminals from gaining unauthorized access to data.
• Manage your online privacy settings. Restrict access to your social media accounts to prevent cybercriminals from seeing information they could use to impersonate you.
• Get identity theft protection. Spoofing strategies can be complex and target you as an individual or as an employee. You can act proactively and protect your sensitive data from being mishandled by signing up for an identity theft protection service. It tracks your personal information on the dark web, alerts you if it’s breached, and helps you handle the processes of reporting identity fraud.

For businesses, prevention is down to the resilience of their network security. They should ensure that all software and hardware are up to date and any vulnerabilities are promptly patched. They can also invest in business identity theft protection services to safeguard personally identifiable information from misuse. Providing employee training on social engineering attacks like phishing, as well as spoofing methods, can help increase awareness of cyber threats and keep the organization secure from within.