17 January

Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) – Comprehensive Guide

Note:
The guides provided in this article are comprehensive overviews designed to give a solid understanding of the topics covered. While they include detailed instructions and best practices, they are not intended to serve as complete tutorials for every aspect of the subject. Readers are encouraged to explore additional resources and documentation for in-depth knowledge and specific implementations. Always exercise caution and ensure compliance with applicable laws and ethical guidelines when applying the information shared in these guides.

 What is the Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET)?

The Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) is an open-source framework for social engineering penetration testing. It allows red teamers to perform attacks such as credential harvesting, phishing, and payload delivery to test an organization’s security posture against social engineering threats.


Installation & Setup

System Requirements

Recommended OS: Kali Linux, Parrot OS, Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, NixOS
Dependencies: Python

Install SET

Using APT (Debian-based systems)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install set

Using GitHub (Latest Version for Any Linux OS)

git clone https://github.com/trustedsec/social-engineer-toolkit.git
cd social-engineer-toolkit
sudo python3 setup.py install

Verify Installation

setoolkit

Basic Usage of SET

Launch SET

sudo setoolkit

Main Attack Vectors

1) Spear-Phishing Attack Vector – Send fake emails with malicious payloads
2) Website Attack Vectors – Clone websites for credential harvesting
3) Infectious Media Generator – Create malicious USB drops
4) Create a Payload and Listener – Generate and deploy backdoors
5) Wireless Access Point Attack – Fake Wi-Fi for credential theft

Example: Cloning a Website for Credential Harvesting

sudo setoolkit
# Select "2) Website Attack Vectors"
# Select "3) Credential Harvester Attack Method"
# Enter the website URL to clone

Alternatives to SET

- Evilginx – Advanced phishing with two-factor bypass
- GoPhish – Open-source phishing framework
- BeEF – Browser exploitation framework
- HiddenEye – Phishing and social engineering toolkit


 Advanced SET Techniques

  • Malicious Macro Attacks – Embedding payloads in Office documents
  • BYPASS AV Payloads – Obfuscating payloads for better success rates
  • Multi-Stage Attacks – Combining phishing with payload delivery
  • Integration with Metasploit – Enhancing exploitation capabilities

Red Teaming Best Practices with SET

Use personalized phishing campaigns for realistic simulations.
Leverage OSINT to craft convincing social engineering scenarios.
Deploy payloads with obfuscation techniques for stealth.
Test campaigns on isolated networks before live use.


Blue Team’s Advanced Hunting Techniques

Monitor email traffic for phishing patterns.
Detect fake login pages with domain analysis tools.
Educate employees on recognizing phishing attempts.
Use endpoint security solutions to block malicious payloads.


Detection & Countermeasures (Blue Team Perspective)

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to prevent credential theft.
Use email filtering to block phishing attempts.
Monitor unusual access requests in SIEM solutions.
Conduct regular phishing awareness training.


Best Practices for Ethical Use

✔ Always obtain permission before launching phishing campaigns.
✔ Follow ethical hacking guidelines and responsible disclosure policies.
Educate organizations on improving security against social engineering.
Stay updated with the latest SET modules and attack techniques.


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