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Phishing is a tactic that cybercriminals use to deceive their victims into revealing sensitive information.
The cybercriminal poses as a trusted contact, using social engineering techniques to get their target to divulge things like passwords, bank account numbers, or Social Security Numbers.
Over the years, cybercriminals have developed increasingly sophisticated phishing scams, and they can be difficult to spot if you don’t know what to look for. Keep reading to learn how to identify and prevent phishing scams.
Key Takeaways
- Phishing is a form of social engineering in which a scammer poses as a trusted contact and uses that trust to extract sensitive information from their target.
- Phishing scams often happen via email, but can also happen via SMS, social media, or even phone calls.
- Signs of a phishing message include lookalike email addresses, suspicious attachments and links, spelling and grammar errors, and a sense of urgency.
- All email users should learn to spot the signs of a phishing attack and be cautious when opening messags.
Types of Phishing Attacks
There are several different types of possible phishing campaigns. Here are some of the most common tactics to keep an eye out for.
Email Phishing
This is the most common form of phishing. 91% of all cyberattacks begin with a phishing email.
In this type of phishing attack, the scammer sends email messages posing as a trustworthy contact, such as your bank or a website you use frequently. Some scammers will also pose as public figures, such as government leaders or celebrities, in an effort to gain their target’s trust.
Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a form of email phishing that targets a specific individual or group. For example, the hacker might target the IT department of a specific organization.
In a spear phishing attack, the hacker will research their victims beforehand using social media platforms and other information available online. Then, they tailor their message to the victim based on their research, which makes it feel more realistic.
Whaling
Whaling is another form of targeted phishing that focuses on high-level corporate executives or other powerful individuals. The scammer conducts detailed research before launching the attack to make their messages as convincing as possible.
They’ll often pose as other high-level employees in the target’s organization to boost their credibility.
SMS Phishing
SMS phishing happens by text message, rather than email or social media. It is also sometimes referred to as “smishing”.
Voice Phishing
Voice phishing happens via phone call, rather than in a written message, and is sometimes known as “vishing”. This strategy has been on the rise over the last few years, as generative artificial intelligence tools have made it easier to spoof someone else’s voice.
Common Tactics Used By Scammers
Mimicking Legitimate Email Addresses
Scammers often create email addresses that closely resemble those of trusted brands. For example, a scammer posing as Google might use an email like support@g00gle.com, which looks nearly identical to the real thing, but with subtle differences.
Fake Websites
In addition to emails, phishing scammers often create fake websites that look like legitimate ones. These sites are designed to collect sensitive information, such as usernames and passwords, by mimicking login pages of trusted companies.
Requests for Personal Information
A clear sign of a phishing scam is an unexpected request for personal or sensitive information, such as login details, birthdates, or credit card numbers. These requests may feel out of place and should raise suspicion.
Creating Urgency
To push victims into action, scammers often create a sense of urgency. For instance, they may send a fake email about a purchase, urging recipients to respond quickly to dispute the charge before they notice the request seems unusual.
Too-Good-to-Be-True Offers
Many phishing attempts include offers that seem suspiciously generous. For example, scammers may promise high-paying remote jobs without requiring any interviews or background checks, hoping to lure victims into sharing sensitive information.
How to Recognize a Phishing Email
It’s important to learn how to spot and avoid phishing emails to keep your personal data safe.
Successful phishing attempts often result in costly identity theft or damage to your customers’ systems. Phishing attacks cost large organizations nearly $15 million annually.
At work, phishing can compromise your company’s systems, resulting in exposed customer data, loss of intellectual property, and system downtime.
Here are some common signs of phishing to watch for.
- Unfamiliar Sender – Verify the identity of unknown senders before opening or responding to their messages.
- Unexpected Messages – Be cautious of unusual messages from trusted contacts, like a bank notifying you of a transaction you didn’t make.
- Poor Spelling and Grammar – Phishing emails often contain spelling or grammar errors, though some scammers use AI to reduce these mistakes. If the message seems automated, verify its legitimacy.
- Suspicious Attachments or Links – Phishing emails often include suspicious links or attachments. Always check links with cybersecurity tools before clicking.
- Incorrect URLs – Phishing links often lead to incorrect URLs. Hover over links to verify their accuracy before clicking.
- Urgency– Phishers use urgent language, pushing you to act quickly, often threatening consequences if you don’t respond in time.
Tips For Preventing a Phishing Attack
Use Comprehensive Cybersecurity Software
Install a full suite of cybersecurity tools on your devices, including antivirus software, firewalls, and VPNs. Also, choose an email provider with strong spam filters to block phishing emails.
Keep Software and Hardware Updated
Regularly update your software and hardware to prevent cybercriminals from exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated programs. Ensure you have the latest patches and security updates.
Schedule Regular Updates
For organizations, set a monthly schedule to install software updates or use monitoring tools to get alerts when new updates are available.
Educate and Train on Phishing
Host regular security awareness training sessions at work to help your team recognize phishing threats. Use phishing simulations and teach employees how to report suspicious messages.
How Can Tech Advisors Help?
As a managed IT services provider, Tech Advisors can help your organization avoid devastating phishing attacks and data breaches.
Our team will work with you to set up a robust anti-phishing and cybersecurity strategy. This includes advanced email threat protection and email encryption.
We’ll help configure your systems and install appropriate security tools to protect your data. We also offer system monitoring to help you detect and respond to cyber threats early.
