Hi David
As far as I know, no one should be plugging anything into phone jacks to
check things unless it is assigned by the IPF Telecom department. If this
is about a data port instead, it could also be IT Services, or the local
building IT. But in any case, it seems to me that you should've refused to
let him plug in until he could prove he was there on official business. All
IPF employees are issues a separate ID card from their main MSU ID and are
expected to have it visible at all times. I would think that all IT
Services employees would be able to prove who they are, and if your building
has any local IT, that should've been his answer. Anything short of that is
just you doing that thing you are pointing out in your second paragraph as a
problem. Personally, I wouldn't have let it pass.
Chris Doerr
Information Technologist I
Support Services
Infrastructure Planning and Facilities
Michigan State University
Phone: 517.432.0225 | Fax: 517.353.5001
[log in to unmask] | ipf.msu.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: David McFarlane [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2017 10:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MSUNAG] Someone checking telephone lines
So a young fellow just showed up unannounced at my office and asked to plug
some equipment into my telephone jack. He looked all official, with various
pieces of equipment hanging off his belt and carrying a clipboard. It
occurred to me that if someone wanted to do some social engineering to get
me to allow them to plug in some equipment for an attack through my phone
line, that would do it. Just for kicks, I asked if he had any ID, and he
said all he could show me was his student ID.
So I let it pass.
It seems to me that we give a lot of lip service asking people to be
vigilant about security, and then in practice ask them to drop their guard.
I myself often go into labs unannounced and start fiddling with equipment
with no one questioning me -- often I bring to their attention that they
should not just let me do that (which itself could be a good social
engineering move). I don't recall getting a memo ahead of time about this
telephone line check, that would help.
Just passing on some info here.
-- dkm
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