Red Teamer Poses as Wi-Fi Tech to Steal $250K Trophy
A red teamer exploited physical security and employee preoccupation with network issues to steal a valuable trophy from a Fortune 500 company.
A professional red teamer successfully infiltrated a Fortune 500 company by posing as a Wi-Fi technician, ultimately walking out with a trophy estimated to be worth $250,000.
Dahvid Schloss, the red teamer in question, was tasked with testing the physical and network security of a prominent company that sponsored an international sporting competition. Coincidentally, the company's office was undergoing construction, which led to widespread and frustrating Wi-Fi connectivity issues for employees.
Schloss and his team capitalized on this disruption. As they moved through the campus with antennas visibly attached to their laptops, employees, preoccupied with their poor internet service, did not question their presence. Instead, many approached the team asking if they were there to fix the Wi-Fi.
During their assessment, Schloss's team discovered one of the three existing trophies on display in the marketing department. Despite the trophy's significant value and the fact that a marketing employee observed him, Schloss was able to remove it from its case. When questioned by the employee, Schloss simply replied that he was there to "fix the Wi-Fi," a response that seemingly satisfied the employee enough to allow him to leave with the trophy concealed in his backpack.
The trophy remained in Schloss's possession for two and a half weeks without any alarms being raised by the company. The full extent of the breach was only revealed during Schloss's final presentation to the company's executives. He presented his findings by placing the stolen trophy on the boardroom table, a stark visual demonstration of the company's security vulnerabilities.
This incident highlights a critical failure in employee vigilance and access control. The story underscores how easily employees can be distracted by operational issues, such as network problems, leading them to overlook suspicious activity. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of training staff to question individuals who appear to belong, especially when they are observed engaging in unusual or unauthorized actions.
Schloss's successful infiltration and theft demonstrate that even high-value assets are vulnerable when physical security and employee awareness are compromised. The incident emphasizes that security audits should encompass not only technical vulnerabilities but also the human element, ensuring that employees remain vigilant and follow established security protocols, regardless of perceived operational disruptions.