Phishing Attacks & How To Get Ahead Of Them
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Phishing Attacks & How To Get Ahead Of Them

Table of Contents -

  • What Is Phishing?
  • State Of Phishing Attacks Today
  • How To Spot A Probable Phishing Attack
  • Protecting Against Phishing Attacks
  • A Multi-Layered Defense Approach
  • Bottom Line
  • FAQs

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is one of the simplest cyberattack methods for criminals to use, as well as one of the easiest to be duped by. It also has everything necessary for hackers to break into the personal and professional accounts of their targets.

A basic phishing attack seeks to persuade the target into doing what the scammer wants. It is typically conducted over email, though the scam has expanded beyond emails to phone calls (called "vishing"), social media, messaging services (also known as "smishing"), and apps.

Nobody wants to become a victim of phishing fraud. But there's a reason why these scams will keep happening: they're profitable enough for cybercriminals to keep doing them. Phishing attacks have existed almost since the beginning of the Internet and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Phishing is another common technique used by online criminals to spread malware. By persuading victims to open a file or click on a link, the attackers sneakily install the malicious payload, which could be trojan malware, ransomware, or any number of disruptive and destructive attacks.

State Of Phishing Attacks Today

Phishing is still the second most expensive attack, costing victims' organizations an average of $4.65 million, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2021. Researchers also discovered that it took an average of 213 days to identify and an additional 80 days to contain any phishing-related breaches. As a result, it takes an average of over 290 days to contain phishing attacks.

The use of office-based devices for personal use and other knowledge gaps are some of the factors contributing to the rise in phishing attacks. These gaps can only be filled by a thorough application of behavioral cybersecurity.?

When it comes to guarding against phishing attacks within an organization, employees are the weakest link. They frequently miss dangerous messages that give attackers easy access and jeopardize the integrity of their operations.

According to Proofpoint's State of the Phish report for 2022, 92% of Australian organizations were the target of successful phishing attacks in 2017. Comparing these figures to the prior year, there has been a 53% increase.

Every day, thousands of new phishing websites are launched, and compromised domains host the majority of them. These websites can easily pass a test of the domain reputation while still hosting malicious pages that compromise users' online privacy.

How To Spot A Probable Phishing Attack

Scammers will send you emails or texts to coerce you into divulging your personal information. They might attempt to steal your Social Security number, account information, or passwords. They might be able to access your bank, email, and other accounts if they manage to get that information. Every day, scammers carry out tens of thousands of similar phishing attacks, many of which are successful.

Phishing emails and texts frequently use a narrative to persuade you to click a link or open an attachment. They might -

  • Claim there is a problem with your account or your payment information that requires you to confirm some personal information.
  • Include a fake invoice.
  • Say they have noticed some suspicious activity or login attempts.
  • Tell you that you are eligible to register for a refund.
  • Present a coupon for a free item

Even though scammers frequently change their strategies, there are some telltale signs that can help you spot a phishing email or text message.

Phishing emails and texts can appear to be from businesses you know or trust. They might appear to be from a bank, a credit card provider, a social media platform, a website or app for making online payments, or an online retailer.

Continue reading by clicking here to know about how to protect against phishing attacks.

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