Average workers receive more than 100 e-mails per day. Because of this influx of e-mails daily, it’s easy to let your guard down and fall for phishing attacks. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of phishing attacks and are vulnerable to these online thieves, but what exactly are they?
Phishing is one of the biggest security threats in the digital world today. And what makes them dangerous is that they can take many forms and resemble similar types of communication that you receive daily, such as internal team communications, specific e-mails about your role, and special offers from your favorite companies. And over the years, these attacks get more sophisticated over time.
But there’s a way to fight these attacks because they only work when they convince you to take action. That’s why the best anti-phishing solution is to know how to identify these crimes so that you can ignore them and quickly report them to security.
In this article, we’ll help you familiarise yourself with the basics of phishing, enabling you to protect yourself, your team, and your whole organisation from these vicious and sneaky attacks.
What Is Phishing?
Phishing attacks attempt to get sensitive information from you, such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details. Cyber thieves do this by masquerading as a trustworthy entity through electronic communication, most often through e-mails.
What Are the Different Types of Phishing Attacks?
- Traditional Phishing: This type of phishing is often sent to many people, hoping for someone to take a bite of the attack. Additionally, this type of attack can vary in sophistication, making it easy to apply for most people.
- Spear Phishing: This is a more targeted type of phishing attack wherein it targets a specific subset of people, such as users of a website, product, employees, and executives, and members of a company or organisation.
- Whale Phishing: This type of attack targets C-level bodies, such as CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and other senior executives. These big players are targeted to get sensitive information from any organisation.
You should note that phishing is different from spam since spam is simply unsolicited e-mails that people send to people to sell something. Besides that, spam doesn’t require or attempt to get sensitive information from its targets.
How Do I Spot a Phishing Attack?
There are several ways to spot a phishing attack, and by knowing these signs, you’ll be able to up your anti-phishing game. Ideally, you want to work closely with a reputable cybersecurity agency to avoid being a vulnerable target for this crime.
1. Suspicious E-mail Address
If you feel like you’ve received an e-mail from a suspicious address, you must proceed with caution even if it has a seemingly legitimate address. Do not take immediate action even if it implies to be urgent.
2. Generic Messages
Because phishing attacks are sent to a large batch of people, you might notice generic greetings and requests baiting you to bite on their attack. If the e-mail lacks specifics, then you’re most probably dealing with a phishing attack.
3. Questionable Links, Attachments, and Requests
When you’re dealing with a suspicious e-mail, never click on hyperlinks or download attachments without further investigation. Besides that, take into consideration the requests they require from you. If they’re sending you threats and asking you to send sensitive information, trust your gut and call a cybersecurity agency right away.
The Bottom Line: Doing Your Part and Working With a Cybersecurity Agency Can Help You With Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are fairly common, and just because it can happen to anyone doesn’t mean you should let your guard down. Practicing anti-phishing practices won’t only help yourself, but it will also help keep your employees, clients, and your whole organisation safe and secure.
Do You Want to Protect Yourself From Phishing Attacks?
Dealing with cyber crimes can be frightening, but you must work with a team of experienced and reliable cyber experts to keep you and your company safe.
FraudWatch International is a leading online brand protection company that has been protecting clients globally since 2003. We offer various protection efforts, such as anti-phishing, malware, social media, and mobile apps impersonation. Enquire now!