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We all live two lives at the same time: real and digital. We all have email, social media accounts, banking applications, accounts on the State Services, chats and instant messengers. After all, we use smart speakers and other IoT devices. We leave our digital footprint in this world every day.
And, since we store valuable information online, it is necessary to take care of a high-quality security system to protect it. One of its levels is one-time passwords (OTP), or codes, which became widespread in the 2010s.
And this technology was followed by the development of Internet scammers who created OTP bots. They pose a serious threat to our second, digital, lives, weakening the degree of protection that OTP technology was supposed to provide.
Let's take a closer look at who OTP bots are, how dangerous they are, and how to protect your data from them.
Table of Contents
1. What is OTP
2. What is two-factor authentication?
3. What are OTP bots?
3.1. How OTP Bots Work
3.2. What an OTP Stealing Bot Attack Looks Like
4. The future of one-time passwords
5. Consequences of OTP Bot Attacks
6. How to deal with OTP bots: protection strategies
This technology is used by banks, marketplaces, mail services, public service systems, etc. Sberbank, Yandex, Gosuslugi and other large and not so large services have OTPs.
The more personal data and other valuable information stored in user accounts, the more preferable it is to use this type of authentication on the website or app. Any business representative must ensure the secure entry and storage of this data, and first of all, in their own interests.
Two-factor authentication works like this: in addition to the standard login and password (the first factor is the login stage), which can be stolen by attackers, the second factor is also activated to verify identity. It can be a predefined PIN, an OTP code generated via text message or an authentication app, biometrics (fingerprint, for example), etc.
One-time passwords are the most common and convenient method used in two-factor authentication. They are quite popular because they are easy and convenient to generate.
For example, when a user logs in to their account from a new device, they are prompted to enter a password. After successfully entering the primary data, a temporary code is sent to his phone or email in the form of a text message. This code must be applied within a few minutes. After that, it expires and requires a request for new code.
In this way, online services, platforms, applications, and websites confirm that real people, not bots, are behind the actions performed with the account.
Following this, they can use the account and personal data for their own fraudulent purposes: for example, entering information for placing orders, making banking transactions and stealing funds from the account, finding out confidential corporate data and even selling it on the dark web.
OTP bots are like all other malicious automated scripts used for attacks. They are capable of acquiring different scales, attacking many accounts at the same time.
What does this mean? About the fact that attackers are always trying to get ahead of and break various protection systems and technologies. Even one-time passwords do not guarantee 100% security of our online data.
To better understand OTP bots, let's take a look at what their algorithm is.
Most often, OTP bots sit on the user's infected device with access to notifications. Or scammers use social engineering to deceive the victim so that she gives the caller a one-time code. Below we provide an approximate attack algorithm.
The user must log in to the personal account of the State Services. After entering the login and password, you need to enter a one-time code sent to the phone. Further actions can unfold depending on the method of deception used by the attackers:
Even more worrying is the general availability of OTP bot services, which can be used for free. Attackers don't even need programming knowledge: now they can simply search for bots depending on the intended type of attack and copy their code.
OTP bots are gaining popularity among scammers, so owners of services that use two-factor authentication need to be on the lookout. Users don't have to relax either. You can recognize such an attack by the following signs:
Business impact
OTP bots pose a direct threat to the technology developed and used by companies to ensure the security of personal data. Among the consequences for business: financial losses due to fraudulent activities, damage to reputation and compromised confidential corporate information. Since bots operate on a large scale, that is, they attack dozens and hundreds of accounts at the same time, it becomes difficult for companies to protect their own and user data.
Impact on ordinary users
Ordinary users are equally vulnerable to OTP bots. Attackers can gain access to personal information by deception through social engineering, phishing, and malware. They, just like companies, face the risk of unauthorized access to personal accounts.
The tactics used by OTP bots create an environment in which users can reveal their one-time passwords. This leads to unauthorized access and compromise of accounts. In addition to privacy violations, they face financial and emotional losses.
Impact on cybersecurity
When you look at OTP bot attacks from a broader perspective – the cybersecurity ecosystem – they show how quickly fraudsters' tactics are changing and improving. Even if a user uses two-factor authentication to ensure security when logging into their account, cybercriminals still find clever ways to bypass it.
This affects both business confidence in cybersecurity systems in general and user attitudes towards conventional data protection methods. It also underscores the need for new and better methods to protect against such threats.
Educating users about data security
One of the key approaches to combating OTP bots is to raise people's awareness of such attacks, the fraudsters' methods they use, and cyber hygiene in general. It is also important to teach them to recognize the signs of phishing attempts, suspicious calls and messages.
Place information on your website, in a separate section, in which you indicate why and for what they need to be careful with their personal data, how to respond to unexpected messages or calls, how your employees can contact customers and what information they have no right to demand.
Even if it seems that letters, calls, messages come from reliable sources, let them double-check and in no case share their one-time codes with anyone.
Informing and timely updating of software
Regular software updates (operating systems, antiviruses, applications) are necessary to eliminate vulnerabilities that OTP fraudsters can exploit. In addition, by staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and fraud techniques used for attacks (e.g., social engineering) and constantly improving security protocols, companies and users can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to attackers.
Connect advanced cyber security tools
For example, Smart Captcha
Awareness and vigilance are important measures to protect against fraud. However, advanced bots require equally sophisticated defense strategies.
Tools designed to detect bot traffic analyze user behavior on websites and identify suspicious patterns associated with OTP bot (as well as other script) attacks.
For example, the Botfaqtor service offers an AI tool called "Smart Captcha". Its task is to protect authorization forms, subscriptions, ordering, and sending applications. A captcha can even be placed on individual fields of the form. The captcha does not bother people and is shown only to bots.
"Smart captcha" is a guarantee that the bot will not even be able to pass the first step of authorization, that is, enter a username and password. The advantage of the tool is that the captcha is shown only to bots, clickers from exchanges will not be able to solve it, since they will not see it at all.
Source
And, since we store valuable information online, it is necessary to take care of a high-quality security system to protect it. One of its levels is one-time passwords (OTP), or codes, which became widespread in the 2010s.
And this technology was followed by the development of Internet scammers who created OTP bots. They pose a serious threat to our second, digital, lives, weakening the degree of protection that OTP technology was supposed to provide.
Let's take a closer look at who OTP bots are, how dangerous they are, and how to protect your data from them.
Table of Contents
1. What is OTP
2. What is two-factor authentication?
3. What are OTP bots?
3.1. How OTP Bots Work
3.2. What an OTP Stealing Bot Attack Looks Like
4. The future of one-time passwords
5. Consequences of OTP Bot Attacks
6. How to deal with OTP bots: protection strategies
What is OTP?
OTP (one-time password) is a one-time (temporary) code. It has a short lifespan that expires just a couple of minutes after being created. For example, they are used when logging into an application account on a smartphone or on the website. It's the short lifespan of codes as a component of two-factor authentication that makes them incredibly valuable.This technology is used by banks, marketplaces, mail services, public service systems, etc. Sberbank, Yandex, Gosuslugi and other large and not so large services have OTPs.
What is two-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is one of the security technologies used to log in to your account. It is a two-step verification of the user who logs in to the site or application. If we draw an analogy, it is something like a double lock on the front door.The more personal data and other valuable information stored in user accounts, the more preferable it is to use this type of authentication on the website or app. Any business representative must ensure the secure entry and storage of this data, and first of all, in their own interests.
Two-factor authentication works like this: in addition to the standard login and password (the first factor is the login stage), which can be stolen by attackers, the second factor is also activated to verify identity. It can be a predefined PIN, an OTP code generated via text message or an authentication app, biometrics (fingerprint, for example), etc.
One-time passwords are the most common and convenient method used in two-factor authentication. They are quite popular because they are easy and convenient to generate.
For example, when a user logs in to their account from a new device, they are prompted to enter a password. After successfully entering the primary data, a temporary code is sent to his phone or email in the form of a text message. This code must be applied within a few minutes. After that, it expires and requires a request for new code.
In this way, online services, platforms, applications, and websites confirm that real people, not bots, are behind the actions performed with the account.
What are OTP bots?
OTP bots are automated scripts programmed to steal one-time passwords. Attackers use them when hacking accounts to go through the second stage of authentication. Having obtained a one-time code, fraudsters can easily log into the attacked account.Following this, they can use the account and personal data for their own fraudulent purposes: for example, entering information for placing orders, making banking transactions and stealing funds from the account, finding out confidential corporate data and even selling it on the dark web.
OTP bots are like all other malicious automated scripts used for attacks. They are capable of acquiring different scales, attacking many accounts at the same time.
What does this mean? About the fact that attackers are always trying to get ahead of and break various protection systems and technologies. Even one-time passwords do not guarantee 100% security of our online data.
To better understand OTP bots, let's take a look at what their algorithm is.
How OTP bots work
The main task of any OTP bot is to steal a one-time password as part of two-factor authentication when logging into an account. To do this, the attackers have developed a number of tactics to run malicious algorithms.Most often, OTP bots sit on the user's infected device with access to notifications. Or scammers use social engineering to deceive the victim so that she gives the caller a one-time code. Below we provide an approximate attack algorithm.
The user must log in to the personal account of the State Services. After entering the login and password, you need to enter a one-time code sent to the phone. Further actions can unfold depending on the method of deception used by the attackers:
- through social engineering and stolen primary data (login and password) — the fraudster introduces himself as a telecom operator, very insistently demands to re-sign the contract through the State Services, asks to go to the service and provide a one-time code;
- or uses fake subscriber IDs, logos and email addresses, phishing, and other methods of deception that convince of the authenticity of the source. A person follows a malicious link to a fake site and enters their data there;
- the user's smartphone is infected with malware that has access to SMS messages and PUSH notifications. It is this bot that can steal one-time passwords without social engineering and other tricks.
What an OTP Theft Bot Attack Looks Like
The algorithm of attacks committed by OTP bots depends on the vulnerabilities of each individual system (website, application, online platform). As a rule, they take place in several stages, which are as follows:- Fraudsters collect information about the victim necessary for the attack. These can be e-mail addresses. email, phone number, or an authentication application (storing passwords).
- Next, they command OTP bots to attack the victim and feed them the necessary information.
- The bot attacks the victim and tricks them into providing a one-time code or completing a certain action by clicking on a malicious link.
- As soon as the bot learns the code, it gains unauthorized access to the account.
- Fraudsters use compromised accounts to perform other fraudulent activities. For example, stealing money from bank accounts or other data, gaining access to confidential corporate information, etc.
The future of one-time passwords
As cyberspace continues to struggle with digital fraud and malicious attacks, OTP bots are complicating the process. With their help, attackers have improved the way to gain unauthorized access to accounts protected even by two-factor authentication. If earlier 2FA was the ultimate means of protecting your account from various attacks, including credential stuffing and phishing, now you should not rely on it 100%.Even more worrying is the general availability of OTP bot services, which can be used for free. Attackers don't even need programming knowledge: now they can simply search for bots depending on the intended type of attack and copy their code.
OTP bots are gaining popularity among scammers, so owners of services that use two-factor authentication need to be on the lookout. Users don't have to relax either. You can recognize such an attack by the following signs:
- a surge in the generation of one-time codes in a short period of time,
- notifications about unusual events,
- you receive requests to enter a one-time password by email, attackers ask for a code when calling the phone;
- suspicious links or attachments (in emails) come along with the code,
- The sender requests immediate account verification.
Consequences of OTP bot attacks
The impact of OTP bots is deep and multifaceted: they threaten both companies and individual users.Business impact
OTP bots pose a direct threat to the technology developed and used by companies to ensure the security of personal data. Among the consequences for business: financial losses due to fraudulent activities, damage to reputation and compromised confidential corporate information. Since bots operate on a large scale, that is, they attack dozens and hundreds of accounts at the same time, it becomes difficult for companies to protect their own and user data.
Impact on ordinary users
Ordinary users are equally vulnerable to OTP bots. Attackers can gain access to personal information by deception through social engineering, phishing, and malware. They, just like companies, face the risk of unauthorized access to personal accounts.
The tactics used by OTP bots create an environment in which users can reveal their one-time passwords. This leads to unauthorized access and compromise of accounts. In addition to privacy violations, they face financial and emotional losses.
Impact on cybersecurity
When you look at OTP bot attacks from a broader perspective – the cybersecurity ecosystem – they show how quickly fraudsters' tactics are changing and improving. Even if a user uses two-factor authentication to ensure security when logging into their account, cybercriminals still find clever ways to bypass it.
This affects both business confidence in cybersecurity systems in general and user attitudes towards conventional data protection methods. It also underscores the need for new and better methods to protect against such threats.
How to Deal with OTP Bots: Protection Strategies
To protect yourself from these types of bot attacks, businesses and consumers are encouraged to follow the tips and strategies listed below.Educating users about data security
One of the key approaches to combating OTP bots is to raise people's awareness of such attacks, the fraudsters' methods they use, and cyber hygiene in general. It is also important to teach them to recognize the signs of phishing attempts, suspicious calls and messages.
Place information on your website, in a separate section, in which you indicate why and for what they need to be careful with their personal data, how to respond to unexpected messages or calls, how your employees can contact customers and what information they have no right to demand.
Even if it seems that letters, calls, messages come from reliable sources, let them double-check and in no case share their one-time codes with anyone.
Informing and timely updating of software
Regular software updates (operating systems, antiviruses, applications) are necessary to eliminate vulnerabilities that OTP fraudsters can exploit. In addition, by staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and fraud techniques used for attacks (e.g., social engineering) and constantly improving security protocols, companies and users can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to attackers.
Connect advanced cyber security tools
For example, Smart Captcha
Awareness and vigilance are important measures to protect against fraud. However, advanced bots require equally sophisticated defense strategies.
Tools designed to detect bot traffic analyze user behavior on websites and identify suspicious patterns associated with OTP bot (as well as other script) attacks.
For example, the Botfaqtor service offers an AI tool called "Smart Captcha". Its task is to protect authorization forms, subscriptions, ordering, and sending applications. A captcha can even be placed on individual fields of the form. The captcha does not bother people and is shown only to bots.
"Smart captcha" is a guarantee that the bot will not even be able to pass the first step of authorization, that is, enter a username and password. The advantage of the tool is that the captcha is shown only to bots, clickers from exchanges will not be able to solve it, since they will not see it at all.
Source
