We've discussed this years back, and decided our safe phrase is "Hi gramma, it's me im in jail and need apple gift cards"
this post was submitted on 09 Dec 2024
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I just call my grandma now and again and attempt to scam her. Now she’s hardened.
I pentest my grandma about once or twice a year.
So does your grandpa
Grandmas doctors were getting out of hand so I had her put down
Eww y'all have a code word? Those are easily guessable.
My wife and I have a random 6 digit code that rotates every 30-seconds based on an algorithm and if we don't properly authorize, we will refuse the connection.
Eww you have a random rotating 6 digit code to connect with your wife? Those are easily guessable.
My wife and I have just agreed that we don't properly authorize, so we will always refuse the connection.
I just don't have a wife. Even more secure.
That's just 2FA
Wooosh.
I mean its not even 2FA exactly. It's more like TOTP which 2FA might use, granted.
My family gaslit me for decades.
I can only hope someone bothers to harass them with my own voice.
So… the same Stranger Danger protocols that parents have been told to use for years.
Wait you actually had a code word for when a stranger approached you?
I thought that was a joke
It is not a joke. Honestly I don’t remember anymore if we had a code word or not, but it was definitely discussed with parents and school officials; probably in D.A.R.E too. The premise is that a kidnapper might try to trick you with: “Your mom is [working late / in the hospital / etc.], she asked me to pick you up today.” If they don’t have the password, then you don’t go with them and then go get help from a trusted adult. If you can’t get to one, run away and scream.
that is a fucking wild concept lol, in what scenario would a parent ask someone the kid doesn't know to pick them up? like even if you 100% trust someone, that doesn't work if the kid has never met them!
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Truth be told, me and my parents have been doing this for a bit now to combat the kidnapping scam calls
We don't need code words, we need a proper PKI (public key infrastructure) for authenticated communication.
You receive a call from an unknown number and they tell you they've kidnapped your wife. They then give her the phone so you can hear her but she didn't do it through Signal so she's obviously not your wife so you just hang up.
You can use this to your benefit though
husband/wife walks up to you to start an argument
"sorry honey, you need your public key"
Instant win
Seems a bit hard to verbally exchange keys and sign your speech though.
Yeah, I wouldn't recommend doing that.
And that's not how you establish a PKI or implement AE (authenticated encryption). When I send a voice message e.g. I don't verbally sign it, that's actually part of KE (key exchange) protocol.
Same applies to non encrypted, authenticated communication of course.
And in case you are talking about physical face to face communication: I think you'd recognize your family and friends without the help of cryptography.
Edit: if you have any question, feel free to ask! Maybe I misunderstood you? Then I'm sorry
Of course you don't verbally sign voice messages. That wouldn't make any sense at all unless you are a robot or something.
It was just a joke. But if you wanted to authenticate something (like an email, or voice I guess) in a PKI you would sign it using your certificate private key and the CA would tell the recipient if it's valid or not.
That's what the article is about though, voice messages can now be spoofed. It happened to one of my friend's parents
I was implying that you do the actual singing verbally. Like actually saying the bits, which would be pretty much impossible.
Of course you could sign voice messages. That would be like singing any other file.
Ohh
The Secret Phrase is: hunter2
Between this and the recommendation to fall back to encrypted communication, this almost looks like someone trying to bootstrap a populace trained to evade the feds.
Oh well
Trust is dead, the foundation of communication was laid to rest without another soul in sight.
Digital communication is dead*
People forget there's still a perfectly good real world right there any time they want to live in it.
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Klaatu barada nmmmpph
my family knows i hate using the phone in the first place so me calling without good reason is a red flag
The scam is exactly about feinting a "good reason". So it is still a good idea to establish a code phrase for such situation, even if you don't normally use the phone.
its the mannerism that matters on the phone.
the other part is for a scammer to create a model using broken english/asian language, which on its own, is a huge hurdle.
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Could just ask me about some niche topic im always info dumping about lmao.
My secret word is banana 🍌
Is 🍌 also the safeword, or do I have to remember two words?
Yes!
The safe word is Don't Stop, so 3 words.
Well, I know "I'm prolapsing" isn't the safe word but gosh everything sure sounds wet
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Anyone born in the 80's probably still has the code word their parents gave them.
"What colour are my pubes"
I just tell them to hang up and call me right back. In some scenarios that might not be the best solution but it is the easiest blanket approach that I can find to keep everyone safe.
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