Phishing attacks are the most prevalent form of cybercrime for a simple reason: they are effective. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam emails flood the inboxes of unsuspecting users. Phishing emails have maintained their position as the most common type of cyberattack for years due to their ease of implementation, scalability, and continued success in deceiving people. The advent of AI tools like ChatGPT has made it even easier for cybercriminals to craft emails that convincingly mimic human communication rather than appearing as automated or fraudulent messages. If you're not vigilant, the consequences of falling for a phishing scam can be severe.
In honor of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and given that phishing emails are a leading cause of cyberattacks, we've put together this straightforward guide to help you and your team recognize phishing emails and understand the importance of doing so.
What are the risks? Here are four major dangers linked to phishing attacks:
1. Data Breaches
Phishing attacks can reveal your organization's sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once exposed, hackers can sell this data on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding significant sums for its return—though they often don't return it. This can lead to financial and legal issues, harm your reputation, and erode customer trust.
2. Financial Loss
Cybercriminals frequently use phishing emails to directly steal money from businesses. Whether through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling prey to phishing can directly affect your financial bottom line.
3. Malware Infections
Phishing emails may contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, cause data loss, and necessitate costly remediation efforts.
4. Compromised Accounts
When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company information.
The list of potential dangers goes on. However, there are steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim of a phishing attack.
Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method, which you and your employees can use to identify phishing emails:
- S - Start With The Subject Line: Is it unusual? (e.g., "FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately")
- E - Examine The Email Address: Do you recognize the sender? Is the email address odd (e.g., spelled differently) or unfamiliar (not the usual one they use)?
- C - Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation strange or generic? (e.g., "Hello Ma'am!")
- U - Unpack The Message: Is there a sense of extreme urgency to click a link, download an attachment, or act on an offer that seems too good to be true?
- R - Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or unusual misspellings?
- E - Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before clicking to check the address, and avoid opening attachments from unknown senders or unexpected sources.
Additionally, it's crucial to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and filter out email spam before it reaches your employees. Ensure you are taking appropriate precautions to protect your network. Phishing attacks are effective and occur frequently. We don't want YOU to be the next victim.
If you need help training your team on
cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or
just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and
assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at 954-327-1001 or click here to
book a cyber strategy session with our team.
