Follow FC as he steals from the world’s most secure banks and government facilities - without breaking a single law
In How I Rob Banks: And Other Such Places, renowned ethical hacker and social engineer FC delivers a gripping and often hilarious discussion of his work: testing the limits of physical bank security by trying to “steal” money, data, and anything else he can get his hands on. In the book, you’ll explore the secretive world of physical assessments and follow FC as he breaks into banks and secure government locations to identify security flaws and loopholes.
The author explains how banks and other secure facilities operate, both digitally and physically, and shows you the tools and techniques he uses to gain access to some of the world’s most locked-down buildings. You’ll also find:
- Strategies you can implement immediately to better secure your own company, home, and data against malicious actors
- Detailed photos, maps, and drawings to bring to life the unbelievable true stories contained inside
- An inside and candid look at a rarely examined industry through the eyes of one of its most respected penetration testers
A can’t-miss account of real-life security exploits perfect for infosec pros, including red and blue teamers, pentesters, CIOs, CISSPs, and social engineers, How I Rob Banks also belongs in the hands of anyone who loves a great Ocean’s 11-style story pulled straight from the real world.
Table of Contents
Foreword xv
Introduction xvii
Chapter 1: What Is Social Engineering? 1
Chapter 2: 330 Cameras 4
Chapter 3: Expensive Doesn’t Mean Secure 7
Chapter 4: The Trolley Problem 12
Chapter 5: High (Street) Security 17
Chapter 6: The Psychology of Stairs 19
Chapter 7: The Broken Arm Ruse 21
Chapter 8: Crown Jewels Are Not Always Shiny 24
Chapter 9: This Is My Office Now 27
Chapter 10: How to Use a Pen to Hack Any Door 31
Chapter 11: My First Kidnapping 34
Chapter 12: I Needed a New Computer 40
Chapter 13: Building My Own Office 43
Chapter 14: Letter of Authority 47
Chapter 15: Astute Manager 49
Chapter 16: I Can’t Fly a Helicopter 51
Chapter 17: Doppelgangers Exist 54
Chapter 18: Stealing the Keychain 56
Chapter 19: It’s Dangerous to Go Alone. Take This! 59
Chapter 20: The Gold Bar 63
Chapter 21: Plush Carpets 68
Chapter 22: Clean(er) Access 71
Chapter 23: What We Do in the Shadows 73
Chapter 24: What Do I Know about Diamonds? 77
Chapter 25: How to Crack a Safe 80
Chapter 26: Find a Safe Space 88
Chapter 27: Well, That Was Unexpected 92
Chapter 28: Opening a Door on Security 95
Chapter 29: How to Tailgate an Opaque Door 98
Chapter 30: The Guard Who Was Too Polite 100
Chapter 31: The Swan Effect 102
Chapter 32: What’s in the Box? 105
Chapter 33: How to Bypass an Elevator Security System 107
Chapter 34: The Loading Bay 109
Chapter 35: The Escort 111
Chapter 36: The Staircase 114
Chapter 37: How to Bypass PIR Detectors 116
Chapter 38: ATMs 121
Chapter 39: Open Windows 124
Chapter 40: Security on a String Budget 127
Chapter 41: How to Bypass Padlocks 131
Chapter 42: Padlocked Gates 134
Chapter 43: The Security of Glass 138
Chapter 44: Trading Places 142
Chapter 45: How to Bypass Keypads 145
Chapter 46: E- Waste 148
Chapter 47: Fourteen Desktop PCs 151
Chapter 48: Spy Gadgets 155
Chapter 49: How to Steal Fingerprints 158
Chapter 50: Five Banks a Week 162
Chapter 51: Finding Out Too Much 165
Chapter 52: Needle in a Haystack 168
Chapter 53: Stealing a Purse and Keys 172
Chapter 54: How to Pick Locks 174
Chapter 55: The Porn Cupboard 179
Chapter 56: The Apartment Across the Way 182
Chapter 57: Magazine Shoot 186
Chapter 58: Double Trouble 189
Chapter 59: Fake ID 191
Chapter 60: Impersonation 195
Chapter 61: How Maglocks Work 199
Chapter 62: Personal Escort 202
Chapter 63: My Favorite Door 205
Chapter 64: Microwave Fences 208
Chapter 65: Discarded Passes 211
Chapter 66: Bypassing Speed Lanes 214
Chapter 67: The Case of the Angry Man 217
Chapter 68: Let’s Play Doctors 220
Chapter 69: That’s for Me! 225
Chapter 70: How to Use a Snickers Bar 231
Chapter 71: Taking the Bus to Work 233
