dumpster diving (noun)

Rick Howard: The word is: dumpster diving

Rick Howard: Spelled: dumpster as in a trash receptacle, and diving as in descending into something. 

Rick Howard: Definition: The act of searching through an organization's trash for discarded sensitive material. 

Rick Howard: Example sentence: A dumpster diving criminal is a threat to business and individuals alike.

Rick Howard: Origin and context: Dumpster diving is a physical security breach in which an attacker looks for sensitive documents or devices that have been thrown in the trash. Information gleaned from these items can be used to launch additional attacks such as phishing or identity theft.

Rick Howard: SecureWorks describes a case that occurred in 2020 in which a threat actor searched through tax prepares dumpsters to gather taxpayers information. The threat actor then sold this information on criminal forums and cyber criminals used the data to commit stimulus check fraud, and to launch covid 19 themed phishing campaigns. Safety tip, organizations can defend against dumpster diving attacks by shredding documents and thoroughly wiping devices before discarding them. 

Rick Howard: Nerd reference: On the long running and critically acclaimed AMC TV show, Better Call Saul, Bob Odenkirk plays Jimmy McGill, a morally complex character who is both a con artist and a skilled small-time lawyer. In this scene, Odenkirk has already discovered that the owners of the Sandpiper Retirement Home have been scamming their elderly clients and he caught Sandpiper personnel shredding documents to hide the evidence trail. 

Rick Howard: He quickly wrote out a cease and desist letter to the Sandpiper lawyers on the only paper he could find, toilet paper. Later that evening, he decides to do a little dumpster diving outside the back alley of the Sandpiper headquarters to see if he could find any more incriminating evidence. But while he's in the dumpster, he has to dive deep under the trash to hide from employees throwing trash bags into the dumpster soon after they leave, but before he can get out, Odenkirk receives a call from the Sandpiper Lawyers.

James McGill: James McGill 

Rich Schweikert: Mr. McGill, Rich Schweikart of Schweikart and Cokely we're the law firm representing Sandpiper Crossing Assisted Living. How are you this evening? 

James McGill: Quite well, thank you. How are you? 

Rich Schweikert: Doing fine. Doing fine. I'm sorry to call so late. Did I catch you at a bad time?

James McGill: No, no, no. It's fine. 

Rich Schweikert: It's just that you're whispering.

James McGill: I'm at the opera. 

Rich Schweikert: Oh, what opera? 

James McGill: Magic Flute .

Rich Schweikert: Mozart, lovely. Well, I'll try not to keep you. We received something from you today and we're not quite sure what. 

James McGill: It's a demand letter.

Rich Schweikert: Huh? Well, it was a little confusing cuz it was written on, uh

James McGill: well, I had to write it quickly because your clients were in the process of destroying evidence.

Rich Schweikert: Mr. McGill, if you're talking about shredding documents, it's neither irregular nor illegal. Every business in America does it. 

James McGill: You say potato I say spoliation. 

Rich Schweikert: Mm-hmm. Maybe you should walk me through what you're alleging here. 

James McGill: I believe it's all in the letter.

Rich Schweikert: I, I, I'm not saying it's not, but it's a bit hard to read. Next time I'd use double ply. 

James McGill: Let's not fixate on the medium. Okay, let's look at the message. Your clients are facing multiple counts of elder abuse and, and fraud and deceptive and unfair trade practices, and that's just a start. Okay? I'm not a betting man, but I bet the farm I'll find more. 

Rick Howard: Word Notes is written by Tim Nodar, executive produced by Peter Kilpe and edited by John Petrik and me, Rick Howard. The mix, sound design, and original music have all been crafted by the ridiculously talented Elliott Pelzman. We're privileged that N2K and podcasts, like Word Notes, are part of the daily intelligence routine of many of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector, as well as the critical security team supporting the Fortune 500 and many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies. N2K Strategic Workforce Intelligence optimizes the value of your biggest investment, people. We make you smarter about your team while making your team smarter. Learn more at N2K.com. Thanks for listening.