Using the Sim Creation Tool

Updated by Sam McDougall

This article will cover how to use the Sim Creation Tool to create a Simulation

Overview

The Sim Creation Tool uses HTML combined with a range of tools to enable you to create an email format for the purpose of a phishing simulation. In this guide we will cover the follow:

  • Core Tools
  • HTML source code input
  • Image input
  • Placeholders/Links

Core Tools

Text editing

The text editer includes the use of Size, Bold, Italic, Font colour, Highlighter.

Each change will be automatically written into the source code.

Undo, Redo

These arrows are used to undo or redo edits made on the tool.

You can also use the shortcuts ctrl + z, crtl + shift + z
Source code

The Source code tool is used to view/edit the source code of the Simulation.

Preview

Located in File and View, Preview is used to preview your Simulation as it will appear when sent.

Alignment

These are used to select the alignment of the element you currently have selected. I.e. centre a table.

Bullet Pointing & Ident

These are used to either bullet point, number or indent text.

This tool is used to link current text or element selection.

Click the Link tool and input URL, Text to display, Title and whether you want the link to open a new window or redirect the current page.

HTML source code input

The Simulation Creation Tool primarily relies on the input of HTML to create more complex formatted Emails/Simulations.

Although you can build a simulation without the use of raw HTML input, it is recommended to have some knowledge of this as some tweaking may be required depending on the result you would like to achieve.

To input HTML click the Source code Icon ( <> )

You will see a text input box appear, shown below:

Code can be copied directly into this box from another code editing software, for example Notepad ++.

Click Save to save your work to your current project.

Once saved, you will see the result populated in the main box, such as the below:

You can extract Source code directly from any email and paste it into the Source code tool as a template

It's important to note that anything entered within the main box creates HTML within the Source code tool:

Image input

There are currently three ways to add images to your simulation.

HTML directly through the Source code tool, shown below:

Using the Image tool URL:

  1. Click in the body, where you would like the image to be placed
  2. Select the Image tool button in the left side of the Nav bar
  3. Input the hosted URL of the image
  4. Input an Alternative description (optional)
  5. Input size parameters for the image
  6. Click Save

Using the Image tool upload:

  1. Click in the body, where you would like the image to be placed
  2. Select the Image tool button in the left side of the Nav bar
  3. Click the Upload icon on the right:
  1. Select the '+' icon in the top right and select 'Upload file'
  1. Select the image uploaded
  1. This will populate the Source box with the image uploaded via Tiny.cloud (shown below):
Any images uploaded using the upload feature (not externally hosted) can be viewed by all licensed system users on this platform. Boxphish Limited cannot assume any responsibility nor accept any liability for consequences arising from the uploading, copying or creation of images or personal data uploaded by licensed users not directly employed by Boxphish Limited to its system.

Placeholders

Placeholders are used to either add a function to any element of the simulation or automatically input text.

These are listed below:

  • {user.name} - This will display the user's full name
  • {user.firstname} - This will display the user's first name
  • {user.lastname} - This will display the user's last name
  • {user.action} - This is used as a trigger to pick up a simulation having been clicked
  • {user.email} - This will display the user's email address

The Placeholders can either be added via the source code or typed directly into the main body of the simulation. Such as the below:

To apply {user.action} to an element follow the below:

  1. Click the element you would like to attach an action to
  2. Select the Link tool
  3. In URL type {user.action}
  4. Click Save

Now, if a user were to click this element, for example an image, they will be redirected to the Landing page and a click will be recorded.

Simulation clicks can be seen in the Reports section of the portal: Click here for Reporting

If you need further support in using this tool, please don't hesitate to contact support@boxphish.com

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