The definition of a phishing attack is:
“A fraudulent attempt by threat operators to get their hands on confidential data. The data can be enterprise or personal information that is retained on clients, customers and personnel”.
This private data may involve credentials like usernames and passwords required to access company accounts and business networks. It may also involve national insurance numbers for identity theft and credit card and banking details to steal money from accounts.
Phishing messages may be sent via text or email. They usually impersonate a trusted entity to better fool the recipient into responding in the fashion they require.
The objective of most attacks is to make victims part with information by employing straightforward and standard requests. However, high-level tactics may involve more cunning schemes.
Complex tactics can include tricks like:
- Malicious email links, where recipients are conned into activating malware that is downloaded onto a company machine
- Links and URL’s that misdirect the victim to a bogus sign-in page. Appearing entirely authentic, the page fools the reader into parting with their confidential credentials.
Being aware that hackers can target your firm is a vital step to defending it against malicious activities, but making certain your staff are prepared is also essential.
Tactics typically used by phishing actors
Common methods utilised by threat actors in their phishing campaigns include:
- Sending fake documentation in the form of attachments. When recipients open the seemingly harmless file, they also simultaneously download a malware payload onto their company device.
- Sending messages from a spoof email address that appears to be a genuine collaborator, contact or supplier. This method sees hackers trick staff into sharing sensitive information or transferring funds. Hackers often pretend to be department heads and line managers, from whom staff are likely to obey requests.
Train your people to spot unusual requests
Your personnel must know how to act if they find an unusual request in their inbox. They must immediately work out whether a request deserves to be challenged and if the email sender should be authenticated before they comply.
Staff require ongoing education and training on how a business operates, including understanding the various enterprises and organisations that it works with. An unsolicited email that is received from a firm with no company connection can be an obvious indication of a phishing attack.
An enterprise’s employees must not be discouraged from coming forward with concerns regarding the legitimacy of an email request, as it can make a significant difference when it comes to email security and can help firms avoid a data breach.
Safeguard your data from phishing actors now
Galaxkey offers you a safer way of working and equips your teams with the tools they need to protect data. From electronic document signing solutions to state-of-the-art email encryption, we can provide your staff with user-friendly solutions that allow them to make confidential data illegible to attackers and verify the legitimacy of signatories on confidential contracts.
Phishing attacks are a gateway to serious threats, such as data breaches and ransomware attacks. Get in touch with our team, and get protected now.
