How to Detect a Phishing: Attack Types, Real Life Examples

Top 22 Methods to Detect a Phishing: Attack Types, Real Life Examples

Google was reported to block around 100 million phishing emails each day. The variety and sophistication of phishing attacks have increased. Attackers have been sending more emails in their campaigns, with a notable rise in the sophistication of these threats. Approximately 96% of organizations reported experiencing at least one phishing attack in the previous year. Phishing has also become a primary delivery method for ransomware, underlining the close link between these types of cyber threats [1]

Phishing attacks are widely used by cyber attackers for reasons such as not requiring much knowledge to implement and not requiring any vulnerabilities in target systems.?

What is Phishing Attack?

A phishing attack is a type of fraud that aims to persuade users to provide personal information, especially identity and financial information, usually through a fake email, message or website. [2]

Most used phishing attack methods

Phishing attacks are cyber attacks that aim to steal sensitive information from victims, often using social engineering tactics. Here are the most common types of phishing attacks:[3]

1. Typosquatting: Creating fake websites using similar domain names by taking advantage of users' typos.
2. Whaling: A subtype of spear phishing that targets senior executives.
3. Smishing (SMS Phishing): Phishing via SMS messages.
4. Vishing (Voice Phishing): Phishing carried out through phone calls.
5. Pharming: Redirecting DNS queries to a malicious site to deceive users.
6. Spear Phishing: More personalized email phishing targeting specific individuals or organizations.
7. Business Email Compromise (BEC): Hijacking and fraud of business email accounts.
8. Watering Hole Phishing: Placing malware on trusted sites frequented by a specific group or organization.
9. Email Phishing: General email phishing targets individuals through deceptive emails.
10. Angler Phishing: Phishing via social media disguised as a customer service representative.
11. Website Spoofing: Creating fake copies of legitimate websites to deceive users.
12. Social Media Phishing: Phishing attacks carried out through social media platforms.
13. Clone Phishing: Re-sending an email containing a malicious link or attachment by creating a copy of a real message.
14. Search Engine Phishing: Leverages search engine results to direct users to deceptive web pages.
15. Interview Phishing: Targets job seekers to obtain information about the target organization under the guise of a job interview.
16. Pop-Up Phishing: Uses deceptive pop-ups that if users click on, they can download malware or be redirected to malicious sites.
17. Image-Based Phishing: Images that contain malicious links or are designed to deceive users are used.
18. HTTPS Phishing: Uses URLs that appear to be safe, but redirect to malicious websites.
19. DNS Spoofing: Phishing by redirecting DNS queries to a malicious site.
20. Email Spoofing: Fraudulent change of the sender's email address to appear as someone the recipient knows.
21. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Phishing: Interrupting the communication flow and seizing data exchange between two parties.
22. Evil Twin Phishing: Phishing via malicious Wi-Fi hotspots.

3 Sample Real Life Phishing Scenario

In a sophisticated cybercrime case investigated by Dubai, AI voice cloning was used to deceive a branch manager into transferring $35 million, believing he was speaking with the director of his company. This heist, involving at least 17 individuals and international transfers, underscores the growing threat of deep fake technology in financial fraud [4].?

Pepco Group, the European retailer operating the Pepco, Poundland, and Dealz brands, lost €15.5 million due to a sophisticated phishing attack on its Hungarian business. The attack's nature suggests it might involve business email compromise (BEC), and despite ongoing efforts with banking partners and police, it's uncertain if the lost funds can be recovered [5].?

A global scam targeting WhatsApp users with fake job offers has defrauded people out of an estimated €100 million. Victims received phishing messages impersonating reputable firms, promising lucrative jobs paid in cryptocurrency, leading to significant financial losses and highlighting the dangers of sophisticated online scams [6].?

Top 14 Methods to Minimize Risk of Phishing Attack

Precautions to be taken to protect against phishing attacks are listed below.

1. Use Updated Security Software and Firewalls: Install and keep your security software, firewalls, and network protections up to date to defend against malware and other threats.
2. Implement Two-Factor Authentication (MFA): Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever possible to add an extra layer of security to your accounts, making it more difficult for attackers to gain unauthorized access.
3. Regularly Update All Software: Ensure all software, including operating systems and applications, are kept up to date with the latest security patches and updates.
4. Educate Your Employees: Stay informed about the latest phishing techniques and educate employees, friends, and family on how to recognize phishing attempts.
5. Use Reputable Search Engines and Verify Websites: Always verify the authenticity of websites, especially before entering sensitive information, and use reputable search engines for your searches.
6. Adjust Privacy Settings on Social Media: Be cautious of unsolicited contacts by adjusting your privacy settings to limit who can view your information and contact you.
7. Verify Requests Through Secondary Channels: Do not rely solely on email or phone; verify significant requests, especially those involving financial transactions or sensitive information, through secondary channels.
8. Use Secure and Encrypted Communications: For sensitive transactions, ensure that communications are secure and encrypted to prevent interception by attackers.
9. Be Skeptical of Unsolicited Requests: Approach unsolicited requests for information with skepticism, whether they come via email, phone, SMS, or social media.
10. Regularly Monitor Accounts: Keep an eye on your financial and personal accounts regularly for any unusual activities or unauthorized transactions.
11. Regularly Change Passwords: Make it a habit to change your passwords regularly and use strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts to prevent unauthorized access. [10]
12. Use Anti-Malware Software: Deploy anti-malware solutions across your devices to detect and remove malicious software that might have been installed without your knowledge.
13. Mail Security for Organizations: For organizations managing their email services, implement advanced mail security solutions that include spam filters, phishing detection, and email authentication protocols.
14. Cloud Services Security: For organizations utilizing cloud services, ensure that cloud platforms and applications are configured securely, and utilize cloud security tools to monitor and protect data.

References

[1] https://aag-it.com/the-latest-phishing-statistics/

[2] https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/access-management/phishing-attack/

[3] https://www.upguard.com/blog/types-of-phishing-attacks#:~:text=Social%20Media%20Phishing,attacks%20to%20access%20sensitive%20data

[4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2021/10/14/huge-bank-fraud-uses-deep-fake-voice-tech-to-steal-millions/?sh=5cb443947559

[5] https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2024/02/28/pepco-phishing-bec-attack/

[6] https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/10/23/behind-the-global-scam-worth-an-estimated-100m-targeting-whatsapp-users-with-fake-job-offe

[7] https://securityforeveryone.com/blog/vishing-attacks-the-audio-face-of-social-engineering

[8] https://securityforeveryone.com/blog/the-hidden-threat-in-emails-ransomware

[9] https://securityforeveryone.com/blog/safe-internet-use-avoiding-harmful-websites

[10] https://securityforeveryone.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-password-security