Learn about the most common phishing attacks:
Most Common Phishing Attacks
There are many phishing attacks, but some of the most common include:
Spear phishing:
This is also known as “targeted phishing” and is a more advanced form of phishing. Spear phishing is when a hacker gathers information about the target and personalizes their attack so it will seem more legitimate.
For example, the hacker may learn about the target’s family, pet, hobbies, favorite sports team, or even their favorite color. Spear phishing attacks can be extremely difficult to spot.
“Whaling”:
This hacking term is used when a hacker targets an executive or business owner. The hacker will research the target to understand what they do and any specific interests they may have. Once they know as much as they can about the target, they will attempt to steal money, information, or other valuable assets.
Brand spoofing:
Brand spoofing is another popular type of phishing attack. It involves the hacker creating a fake message from a trusted brand like Amazon, PayPal, or even your bank. The hacker will create a convincing email and send it out to large groups of people at once in hopes of tricking someone into clicking on the link and giving them their personal information.
Spoofing an email can be difficult to identify because many emails that look suspicious are coming from legitimate brands or businesses. If you ever have doubts about an email you receive, do not open any links or attachments in the message—simply delete it!
Brandjacking:
A brandjacking attack is when a hacker creates a replica of a website they wish to impersonate and then sends out spam emails directing potential victims to visit the fake site instead of the original web page.
The goal of this type of attack is to steal customer data from a reputable company without being caught. A brandjacking attack may also be used as a gateway for other types of attacks like malware infections or ransomware attacks.
How Can You Avoid Phishing Attacks?
There are several ways you can avoid being targeted by a phishing attack:
1. Learn how to spot phishing emails
A lot of phishing attacks are easy to spot, as long as you know what to look for. Be sure to be cautious of any email that asks you to share sensitive information or pay money.
2. Educate your coworkers
By educating your coworkers on common phishing attacks and how they work, you can help them spot potential threats. The more people who are aware of the dangers of phishing, the more protected your business will be.
3.Install anti-virus/malware protection
These types of software can help block certain types of phishing attacks, such as those involving malware or viruses. They also help keep your computer protected from other viruses and malware.
4. Be wary of any emails that ask for personal information
If you get an email asking for your credit card number or social security number, be sure to verify that it’s legitimate before responding. Confirm with someone else in your company that the email is real. Once you confirm it is real, go directly to the official website and enter your information there.
5. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi
Using public Wi-Fi could expose you to potential phishing attacks. Avoid accessing sensitive or confidential information while connected to public Wi-Fi. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a website, do not enter your personal information there until you’ve confirmed it’s safe to do so. This is also true for any emails that ask for your personal information to verify your account or security questions.
