What Is Phishing | Key Signs & Prevention

The onslaught of phishing scams is a continuous battle that companies face. Highly sophisticated phishing tactics are expected to be launched as the world becomes more digitally connected. It takes years for a company to build its reputation but only seconds to wreck it in a phishing attack.

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyber-attack wherein the bad actor pretends to be a legitimate user to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, which may result in reputational and financial damages.

A phishing message can be in the form of “too good to be true” offers and messages to lure the victim into clicking a malicious link. The attacker may send the fraudulent content through text messages or emails.

Key signs of a phishing threat

• Misspelled words and grammar mistakes
• Strange tone of message
• A sense of urgency in the communication
• Suspicious email address and domain
• Suspicious requests
• Too-good-to-be-true offers

How to prevent phishing attacks?

Bolster Email Security

Email is a widely used tool for data hackers to launch phishing scams and attacks. Therefore, it is imperative to invest in high-quality and proactive email security software to block phishing threats before they cause damage. Training your employees for phishing detection and cybersecurity awareness can also save your business from falling victim to attackers. Additionally, using strong passwords and 2-factor authentication is a significant measure you can take to protect your data.

Be careful on clicking links & attachments

links and attachments in an email, messages, or pop-ups can lead to pitfalls. Thus, it is advisable to hover over a link before clicking on them. Don’t fall for the urgency scheme plotted by hackers that pressure you into giving out personal information. It is advisable to go directly to the source through a search engine instead of clicking the link. Verify first if the URL is trusted and leads to the authentic site. Legitimate links usually start with https://.

Keep abreast of the latest reports on phishing

The trends in phishing are constantly evolving so it’s necessary to stay up to date with the latest updates in phishing attacks and scams and how to prevent them. By joining trainings or webcasts on this topic, you develop a critical eye for detecting red flags in phishing scams and attacks.

Phishing Attack Detection

There’s no silver bullet for phishing attacks but getting familiar with the common indicators of a phishing threat is a good start to safeguard your company and customers. Your organization must promote awareness among its employees on the detection and prevention of phishing scams. One way is by establishing a protocol for reporting suspicious emails and messages your employees have received