How to Score Free Game Product Keys with Social Engineering « Null Byte :: WonderHowTo

Lost the product key for your game? If you have to reinstall the game and don't have that key anymore, you're out of luck, especially if you didn't "buy" the game. But never be in fear of losing product keys again with today's Null Byte, where we'll be practicing a little bit of mind-kung fu.Social manipulation is ahugepart of learning how to hack and defend from hackers, because the human element is always the weakest chain in the fence. Since it's such an intense and fun subject, we might as well get hands on with it. And that's exactly what's going on here today—practicing our social engineering elite skills.Our targets vary—game retailers, their employees, and the system behind it are all things we need to manipulate in order to prove this concept.Note:These skills and concepts are taken from live social engineering hacks that we perform atNull Byteon a weekly basis.WarningThis is illegal, without question. This tutorial is here merely as an informational how-to showing people how easy it is to manipulate andbemanipulated.RequirementsCalm and strong personaPen and paper to write down important informationTelephoneStep1Call the Game RetailerCall the game retailer that you purchased the game from and get ready to lie through your teeth. When the employee answers the phone and greets you, brace yourself for battle and start talking.TipsDo research on your target ahead of time, i.e. location of headquarters, etc.Call from a phone that isn't your own.Think of a creative story in case something backfires and hang up.Example script:"Hi, my name is Roy Walters from the Infinity Ward shipping office in <insert location>. I'm calling because of a defective shipment that's been brought to my attention by the logistics team from <location of IW HQ>. The game was(pretend to look at a clipboard or something)<insert game here> and we need to verify that the games are indeed from the defective batch. I need you to grab a copy and read off the bar code on the back of the case."Watch in amusement as they likely comply with your seemingly harmless demands.Step2Run with Your New InformationNow we need to social engineer the key code out of them. Be careful not to sound too weird. You need to sound smooth and calm. If something goes wrong, be persistent for a minute and act a bit stressed. Say the boss is breathing down your neck. Most people will be more than willing to help out if you don't rage at them.You:"May I have the UID code located on the <UID location>(do your research!)?"Them:"Okay, Just a sec... It's XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX."You:"Alright, hold on, let me check that real quick(make typing sounds on your keyboard for authenticity)."You:"Weird, it looks like we're okay, but just to make sure, can you read the key off for me? It's located at <location here>."Them:"Okay, the game key is XXX-XX-XXXX-XXXX."Roll out with your profit. This could be extremely helpful in a situation where you possess a game, but no longer have a product key. However, this is indeed illegal—and very morally wrong.Be a Part of Null Byte!Post to theforumChat onIRCFollow onTwitterCircle onGoogleWant to start making money as a white hat hacker?Jump-start your hacking career with our2020 Premium Ethical Hacking Certification Training Bundlefrom the newNull Byte Shopand get over 60 hours of training from cybersecurity professionals.Buy Now (90% off) >Other worthwhile deals to check out:97% off The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle99% off The 2021 All-in-One Data Scientist Mega Bundle98% off The 2021 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle62% off MindMaster Mind Mapping Software: Perpetual LicenseImages bythebuzzmedia,adptcRelatedHow To:Learn the Secrets of PsychologySocial Engineering:How to Use Persuasion to Compromise a Human TargetHack Like a Pro:How to Spear Phish with the Social Engineering Toolkit (SET) in BackTrackHack Like a Pro:The Ultimate Social Engineering HackSocial Engineering:The Most Powerful HackListen In:Live Social Engineering Phone Calls with Professional Social Engineers (Week 2)Listen In:Live Social Engineering Phone Calls with Professional Social EngineersListen In:Live Social Engineering Phone Calls with Professional Social Engineers (Final Session)Social Engineering, Part 1:Scoring a Free Cell PhoneWeekend Homework:How to Become a Null Byte Contributor (2/17/2012)News:Live Social EngineeringHow To:Proof of Social Engineering Success!Xbox LIVE Achievement:How to Earn Free Microsoft Points with Social EngineeringHow To:Social Engineer Your Way Into an Amusement Park for FreeWeekend Homework:How to Become a Null Byte Contributor (2/3/2012)Social Engineering, Part 2:Hacking a Friend's Facebook PasswordWeekend Homework:How to Become a Null Byte Contributor (2/10/2012)News:Microsoft Ribbon HeroNews:A Computer Game Inside MinecraftScramble with Friends:Zynga's Newly Released Word Game for iOSNews:Social Haven Rescue Free Iphone Game-We liked it?How To:The Official Google+ Insider's Guide IndexNews:Google social web engineer Joseph Smarr talks about lessons from Google+Scrabble Challenge #9:Can You Win the Losing Game on the Last Move?News:Top 13 Google Insiders to Follow on Google+Sweatshop:A Bizarre Tower Defense Game with a MessageNews:SCRABBLE Expert Breaks RecordSocial Engineering:The BasicsNews:Joel Sherman Breaks Scrabble Record with 803-Point GameNews:Google+ Pro Tips Weekly Round Up: Google Adds Google+ ExtensionsHow To:The Social Engineer's Guide to Buying an Expensive LaptopWC 2010 grim view:low scores, low attendance.How To:recognize Crowd Control - Part 1Farewell Byte:Goodbye Alex, Welcome AllenAlien Swarm:Free Game from Valve!News:Games to Appear in Google+ StreamHow To:Advanced Social Engineering, Part 1: Exact Revenge on Craigslist Scammers with Tabnab PhishingHow To:get free carNews:Farmville NOT LEAVING Facebook