WhatsApp / Chat Phishing: Trusted Messaging Abuse Simulation

PTEF-Aligned:Profile → Tailor → Simulate → Evaluate → Evolve

Threat Narrative

Attackers increasingly bypass email controls by using messaging platforms where people move fast and trust familiar names. In chat, short messages, urgency, and "quick approvals" lead to unsafe outcomes—clicking links, sharing files, revealing internal info, or approving transactions without verification. Cyberorca simulates chat-based social engineering under written client authorization to validate verification discipline, safe file/link handling, and reporting readiness across messaging channels.

How Cyberorca Runs This Service

Governance applies across all phases.

1

Profile & Scope

Platform Scope & Admin Approval — Define which platforms are in-scope. For external messaging apps, recipient lists must be client-approved and consented.

2

Tailor Scenarios & Controls

Scenario Design (Chat-Realistic, Non-Abusive) — Design short, realistic chat scenarios aligned to business workflows without coercive content or harmful demands.

3

Simulate (Controlled Execution)

Controlled Simulation Execution — Run simulations using approved test accounts/channels and safe links/landing pages. No malware, no exploit delivery, and no unauthorized access to real accounts. Live monitoring with stop conditions and a kill switch.

4

Evaluate (Telemetry & Reporting)

Safe Telemetry & Reporting — Measure minimal outcomes: link interaction, file-request interaction, verification behavior, report/escalation actions, and time-to-report. Avoid collecting chat message content unless explicitly approved; default to aggregate reporting.

5

Evolve (Remediation & Hardening)

Remediation & Secure Chat Practices — Deliver focused coaching and recommended platform controls (verification scripts, out-of-band confirmation, secure file-sharing, link preview awareness, restricted external sharing, reporting shortcuts).

Metrics & Outcomes

Interaction Rate (link/file/request interaction by scenario)
Verification Compliance (did users confirm via approved process?)
Report/Escalation Rate (who reports and via which channel)
Median Time-to-Report (minutes)
Unsafe Sharing Events (attempts to share sensitive info/files)
Repeat Exposure Rate (behavior improvement across waves)
Control Recommendations Delivered (platform hardening actions identified)
Note: Outcomes vary based on platform configuration, reporting UX, and program maturity.

Governance & Ethics

  • •Written Authorization & Platform Admin Approval: simulations run only with documented approval and scoped channels/accounts
  • •No Unauthorized Account Access: no real account takeover; simulations use approved test identities and controlled scenarios
  • •ToS-Respecting Operation: comply with platform policies and client governance; avoid spam-like automation
  • •No Harmful Payloads: no malware, no exploits, no real credential collection
  • •Privacy & Data Minimization: minimal telemetry; aggregated by default; RBAC; audit trails; defined retention

Engagement Model

Chat Baseline Assessment (2–4 weeks): single platform + limited scenarios + verification gap report Quarterly Chat Resilience Program: quarterly simulations + trendline reporting + chat hardening recommendations Multi-Channel Human Attack Surface Program: integrated with email/smishing/QR/vishing for unified executive reporting and maturity progression