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In what stands out as a chilling reminder of how cybercriminals can exploit human trust, Cisco confirmed a data breach triggered by a "vishing" (voice phishing) attack—a high‑tech ploy that doesn’t rely on malware but on manipulating people directly.

The incident came to light when a cyber‑threat actor impersonated a trusted entity over the phone and convinced a Cisco representative to grant access to a third‑party cloud‑based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. That single call opened the door for the intruder to siphon off basic profiles of Cisco.com users—including names, organization names, addresses, assigned user IDs, email addresses, phone numbers, and account metadata like creation dates The Times of India Bleeping Computer Bank Info Security.

First detected on July 24, Cisco reacted swiftly by terminating the attacker’s access and launching a thorough internal investigation, Bank Info Security Bleeping Computer. Thankfully, the company clarified that no passwords, proprietary business data, or other sensitive information were taken, and its products and services remain unaffected, Bleeping Computer Bank Info Security.

This breach could mark yet another incident in a wave of similar attacks exploiting Salesforce-based CRM vulnerabilities. Other major companies—including Google, Allianz Life, Qantas, and several luxury brands—have already faced comparable threats via vishing campaigns, Bank Info Security.

In response, Cisco is not only working hand-in-hand with law enforcement and data protection authorities but also notifying affected users “where required by law.” Going a step further, the company is reinforcing its internal defenses by retraining staff to recognize and deflect future voice phishing attempts, Bleeping Computer Security Affairs.

Key Takeaways

Voice phishing may sound old-school, but this incident underscores just how potent such tactics remain—especially when used on skilled tech companies. A timely wake‑up call: even the most secure systems can be brought down by a single convincing voice on the line.

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