Phishing: One of The Most Common Attacks
You may be aware of email scams and hackers who target victims through phishing. These attacks are becoming more frequent, with incidents doubling since 2020 and showing no signs of slowing. Phishing is lucrative, with some scams bringing in nearly a million dollars for those behind them. This potential payoff motivates attackers to constantly seek new targets. To avoid becoming a victim, it is important to understand these threats and how to counter them.
Telltale Signs of a Phishing Email
Recognizing phishing emails is crucial for safeguarding yourself, your team, and your business. It’s important for everyone to understand the warning signs. Phishing emails could contain one or more of the following elements:
Threats or an urgent call to action
Phishing emails try to trick people into doing something. They might say you need to update your bank info, or they’ll turn off your subscription. They could also promise a great deal if you fill out a form with your birthday and social security number. The goal is to make you act fast and give away personal information that hackers can use to steal money or cause problems. It’s that simple. In 86% of data breaches, hackers wanted money, but there are other reasons, too.
Sent from an unfamiliar or mismatched address
Phishing email addresses can come in a few ways. The sender’s address:
- It is from a public domain, such as Gmail or Yahoo, meaning it’s most likely from a person and not a business
- Looks like it’s from a familiar company, but the spelling is inaccurate or, for example, the email address
ends in .net when the real company’s domain uses .com - Isn’t one you recognize, along with the domain or the sender’s name
Generic greeting
They don’t use your name because they may not know it, didn’t bother to include it in their scam setup, or aren’t interested in your name unless you decide to assist and give them what they are seeking.
Sent from a domain that doesn’t match the links in the email
For example, the sender’s email is from a public domain (i.e., the part after @) and the links go to a website you don’t recognize. Use your browser’s hover feature to check the web addresses of any links before you click on them.
Spelling and grammar mistakes
Being able to identify these signs can help you detect when an email from a known address has been compromised. For instance, there was a case where a well-known author and writing instructor had her email hacked to send phishing messages to her students. The hackers failed in their attempt because the students recognized that she wouldn’t send emails filled with mistakes.
Poorly written
Aside from spelling and grammar, the hacker might not take the time to create an email that sounds professional or fits the brand or purpose. If something seems off, trust your instincts; it could be a phishing email.
What can I do to avoid falling victim to phishing?
With the challenging parts addressed, let’s focus on how you and your team can ensure safety.
Educate yourself and your team about phishing emails
When people understand the signs, they are better equipped to decide which emails to open and which to flag. Let your team know exactly what actions should be taken when encountering a suspicious email. This way, they’ll know how to handle it and will avoid clicking on any link that could allow a hacker to access your network.
Up your cybersecurity game
If you do not have an in-house IT team or are not currently partnered with a cybersecurity provider, it is important to take steps to safeguard your digital assets and electronic devices. This means that now is the time to proactively seek out information about security options. We recommend that you take some time to conduct thorough research to understand the different solutions that exist and how they can benefit your business. Ultimately, you should aim to select a cybersecurity solution that aligns well with your specific needs and requirements.
Use multi-factor authentication
This tool has become common, and that is largely due to its effectiveness. When you need both your password and your phone in order to access an account or log into a service, the chances of a hacker successfully breaking into your account are significantly reduced. This two-step verification process adds an extra layer of security, making it much harder for unauthorized users to gain access to your personal information.
Back up your data somewhere other than on your network
If your network gets hacked and disrupted, having a backup outside your network, like on an external hard drive or a cloud server, can help. This backup can make a big difference, allowing your team to get back on track more quickly. It also means that the hacker doesn’t have complete control over your data.
Set mobile devices to update software automatically
Software and smart device companies tackle cybersecurity challenges by releasing software updates. Installing these updates on your company’s devices promptly ensures they are safeguarded against the latest threats.
Improve Your Organization’s Security Measures
With cybersecurity-smart employees and robust technology, your organization will operate more securely and efficiently than ever before. Applied Tech can help you level up your cybersecurity infrastructure.
About Applied Tech
Applied Tech is a leading IT and cybersecurity services provider dedicated to helping businesses protect their digital assets. Our proactive and strategic services include cloud management, security, productivity, and IT growth strategy. With a team of experienced professionals, we provide unique solutions tailored to your IT needs.
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