OTP BOT

What is an OTP Bot?​

• Automated Phone Calls or SMS: The bot poses as a legitimate service (e.g., a bank or tech company) and prompts the victim to share an OTP sent to their phone.
• Phishing Websites: The bot directs users to fake login pages that capture both passwords and OTPs.
• Social Engineering: Bots may use pre-recorded voice messages or text-based scripts to manipulate users into disclosing OTPs.

How OTP Bots Work (Technical Overview)​

1. Reconnaissance: Attackers identify targets, often through data breaches or social media profiling, to obtain phone numbers or email addresses.
2. Phishing Setup: The bot sends a phishing message or call, impersonating a trusted entity (e.g., "Your bank account is at risk, please verify your OTP").
3. OTP Interception: When the victim receives a legitimate OTP from a service and enters it into a phishing site or shares it via phone, the bot captures it.
4. Account Compromise: The attacker uses the stolen OTP to complete authentication and access the victim’s account.

Educational Guide to Studying OTP Bots​

1. Learn the Basics of Authentication Systems:
   • Study how 2FA works, including SMS-based OTPs, app-based authenticators (e.g., TOTP like Google Authenticator), and hardware tokens.
   • Resources: Read the OWASP Authentication Cheat Sheet (https://owasp.org/www-project-cheat-sheets/) or take a free course on platforms like Cybrary or TryHackMe.
2. Understand Phishing Techniques:
   • Research phishing kits and social engineering tactics used by OTP bots. Analyze open-source phishing frameworks (e.g., Evilginx2) in a lab environment to see how attackers create fake login pages.
   • Lab Setup: Use a virtual machine (e.g., Kali Linux) to experiment with phishing simulations ethically. Never deploy these tools against real users or systems without permission.
3. Analyze Real-World OTP Bot Examples:
   • Search for case studies or threat intelligence reports on OTP bots. For example, cybersecurity blogs like KrebsOnSecurity or reports from companies like Palo Alto Networks detail bot-driven attacks.
   • On X, search for posts about OTP bot scams (e.g., keywords like “OTP scam” or “phishing bot”). Be cautious of unverified claims, but these can provide real-time insights into scam trends.
4. Set Up a Controlled Environment:
   • Create a mock authentication system using open-source tools like FreeIPA or Keycloak to simulate 2FA workflows.
   • Write a simple script (e.g., in Python) to mimic a phishing bot’s behavior, such as sending automated messages or scraping input from a fake login page. Example (for educational use only):
     
     Python:

     # Example: Simulate a phishing page (DO NOT use maliciously)
     from flask import Flask, request
     
     app = Flask(__name__)
     
     @app.route('/login', methods=['POST'])
     def fake_login():
         username = request.form.get('username')
         password = request.form.get('password')
         otp = request.form.get('otp')
         print(f"Captured: Username={username}, Password={password}, OTP={otp}")
         return "Login successful (simulated)"
     
     if __name__ == '__main__':
         app.run(debug=True)

   • Use this in a local lab to understand how attackers capture credentials.
5. Study Defensive Techniques:
   • Learn to detect phishing attempts by analyzing email headers, domain authenticity, or voice call patterns.
   • Explore anti-phishing tools like Google Safe Browsing or Barracuda Sentinel.
   • Practice identifying malicious scripts by analyzing their code (e.g., reverse-engineering a phishing kit from a honeypot).
6. Engage with Cybersecurity Communities:
   • Join platforms like Reddit’s r/cybersecurity or X communities discussing OTP scams. Share knowledge and ask for feedback on defensive strategies.
   • Participate in CTFs (Capture The Flag) on platforms like Hack The Box to simulate defending against authentication bypass attacks.

Tools for Study​

• Wireshark: Analyze network traffic to understand how phishing sites communicate.
• Burp Suite: Intercept and inspect HTTP requests from fake login pages.
• OSINT Tools: Use tools like Maltego to track phishing campaigns or bot infrastructure.
• TryHackMe or Hack The Box: Practice authentication bypass and phishing defense in safe environments.

What is an OTP Bot?​

• SIM swapping attacks
• Account takeover attempts
• Phishing campaigns with 2FA bypass
• Automated credential stuffing attacks

• Two-factor authentication (2FA) vulnerabilities
• Mobile network security flaws
• Social engineering techniques
• Red teaming / ethical hacking strategies
• Defensive countermeasures

Educational Use: How to Study OTP Bots​

1. Learn About 2FA and OTP Internals​

• TOTP (Time-based One-Time Password) – Used by Google Authenticator, Authy
• HOTP (HMAC-based One-Time Password) – Event-based tokens
• SMS/email-based OTPs – Often less secure due to reliance on telecom/email systems

• RFC 6238 (TOTP): https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6238
• RFC 4226 (HOTP): https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc4226

2. Study Real-World Attack Vectors​

• SIM Swapping: Redirecting phone numbers
• Port-out scams: Taking control of a phone number
• Malicious Android apps: Intercepting SMS messages
• Phishing with real-time proxies: Capturing credentials + OTPs

• MitMProxy: For intercepting HTTPS traffic in lab environments
• Burp Suite: To study web app login flows
• Android Emulators: To test SMS interception in controlled environments

Note: Always test in isolated labs or with permission.

Click to expand...

3. Set Up a Lab Environment​

• Kali Linux or Parrot OS for penetration testing
• Android Studio with emulator for mobile testing
• Virtual Machines for isolating services

• Simulate a login system with TOTP
• Create a mock phishing site that captures credentials + OTPs (locally)
• Analyze how an attacker could automate OTP harvesting

4. Explore Open Source Tools​

• Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) – Includes options for credential harvesting
• Modlishka – Reverse proxy for phishing with 2FA capture
• ZAP Proxy / Burp Suite – For analyzing login flows

1. OTP Bots for SMS/Email Verification​

• 5sim.net – Provides temporary numbers for OTP verification.
• SMSPVA – Offers virtual numbers for SMS verification.
• Receive-SMS – Free online numbers for OTPs.
• Temp-Mail – Temporary email services for email-based OTPs.

Guide: How to Use an OTP Bot​

1. Choose a Service (e.g., 5sim.net).
2. Select a Country & Number (some services charge a small fee).
3. Use the Number for Sign-Up (e.g., Telegram, WhatsApp, Gmail).
4. Check the SMS/Email on the service’s dashboard for the OTP.

2. Telegram OTP Bots​

• @OTPManagerBot – Manages OTP codes (TOTP/HOTP).
• Google Authenticator (Manual setup, not a bot).
• Authy (Cloud-based OTP manager).

Guide: Setting Up Telegram OTP Bot​

1. Search for @OTPManagerBot on Telegram.
2. Follow the bot’s instructions to add a new OTP (scan QR or enter key).
3. The bot will generate codes for your accounts.

3. Self-Hosted OTP Bots (For Developers)​

• Python-based OTP Generator (using pyotp library).
• Twilio API (for SMS OTP automation).
• Node.js OTP Services (e.g., speakeasy npm package).

Example: Python OTP Generator​

import pyotp

# Generate a TOTP
secret = pyotp.random_base32()
totp = pyotp.TOTP(secret)
print("Current OTP:", totp.now())
(Install with pip install pyotp)