Phishing is a kind of social engineering attack that is commonly used to steal user information including credit card numbers and login credentials. It takes place when an attacker, pretending to be a trusted entity, fools someone into opening a text message, instant message, or an email. The recipient is then duped into clicking a malicious link that can result into the installation of malware, revealing sensitive information, or freezing the device as of the ransomware attack.
An attack could have devastating consequences like identity theft, stealing of funds, or unauthorized purchases.
Aside from that, phishing Wilmington NC is commonly used to obtain a foothold in governmental or corporate networks as a part of wide scale attack like an APT or advanced persistent threat. In the last situation, employees are then compromised to bypass the security protocols that have been set up, spread the malware within a closed environment, or obtain access to sensitive data.
A company that succumbs to this type of cyberattack generally suffers severe financial losses apart from declining reputation, consumer trust, and market share. Depending on the attack’s scope, a phishing incident may turn into a security incident from which a company will have a hard time recovering.
Examples of Phishing Attacks
- Spoofed email from myuniversity.edu that’s distributed widely to countless faculty members
- Emails claiming that the user’s password is set to expire
Phishing Techniques
- Email Phishing Scams – is considered to be a numbers game wherein the attacker sends thousands of fake messages. Doing so allows them to get significant information and cash, even if only a few people fall victim to the phishing scam. Attackers will try to replicate actual emails from a spoofed company. They will use the same typefaces, phrasing, logos, and signatures to make messages look legitimate.
- Spear Phishing – this technique targets a specific technique or person, unlike random application users. It is a more comprehensive version of phishing that needs special knowledge regarding an organization like its power structure.
How To Prevent Phishing
Both users and enterprises need to take steps in order to protect themselves from phishing attacks. Users need to be vigilant. A spoofed message commonly contains subtle mistakes that will expose its real identity. These may include changes to the domain names and spelling mistakes. Users must also stop and think twice about why they are getting such an email. For companies, there are some steps they can take to mitigate the risks of facing phishing and spear phishing attacks.
- 2FA or Two factor authentication – it is considered to be the most effective method when it comes to mitigating phishing attacks. It also adds another layer of verification when logging into confidential applications. 2FA depends on users to have two crucial things. The password and username as well as their smartphones. Even if employees are compromised, 2FA stops the use of the credentials that have been compromised, because these are not enough to get access.
- Apart from using 2FA, companies must set in place strict password management policies.
- Educational campaigns could also help reduce the threat of phishing attacks by make sure that secure practices.
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