If you've spent any time online, you've heard of phishing attacks. The first phishing attack occurred in 1995 when compromised Windows application AOHell would steal people's passwords and use algorithms to create randomized credit card numbers. Since then phishing attacks have become far more advanced and many businesses have encountered an attack.
This type of attack is when a cyber hacker sends out a wide net of phishing emails to a mass audience from a fake corporate entity. Typically, the email will ask the user to enter credit card details or their employee credentials. This type of attack relies on their email spoofing skills and a sense of urgency. However, these emails are not always perfect and there are a few signs to look for:
This is an attack that targets a specific person or department within an organization. Things to watch out for include:
This type of attack is directed at senior executives or higher-profile targets within an organization. The goal of these attacks is to try and gain access to a company's platforms or financial information. Things to watch out for include:
As mentioned before, the attacks for phishing have become increasingly advanced. Clone phishing is no exception. This is when the cyber criminal copies a legitimate email that was sent from a trusted source and replaces the regular link with a malicious one:
This involves a hacker trying to gain access through a non-email channel such as voicemail. Typically the attacker will leave a message that says they will send an email to you, however that email will most likely contain malicious links that could attack your computer. If a website or email doesn't look legitimate, get out of there! All humans make errors, but odd grammar mistakes are a good indication that the email contains malware. Double checking with the sender could save you and your organization from a cyber attack. Lastly, educate yourself and those around you about phishing. The more you know about phishing attacks, the easier it will be to spot and prevent them. If you want to learn more about phishing attacks and how to prevent them, schedule a free consultation with us here at iCorps.